Dear Mr. Premack: My mother owns several rent houses and has managed them herself for years. She is now in her 80’s and does not have the energy to handle the leasing, collecting the rent, and maintaining the properties. Actually, I fear that her forgetfulness is a symptom of a deeper issue. I am wondering if there is a way that I can act as her assistant, taking some of the management burden off her shoulders. Her insurance company will not talk to me about the rent houses,

Original Publication: San Antonio Express News, May 19, 2014 Dear Mr. Premack: Like many others who own land in the Eagle Ford shale area, I now have a mineral lease which is producing income. Also, like many others, my wife and I are concerned about protecting our estates from exposure to liability if something should go wrong. This land has been in my family since my grandfather purchased it. What strategies exist to shelter the land and to shelter our savings from liabilit

Dear Mr. Premack: My brother has just inherited a variety of investments (all in a brokerage account) from our uncle. The brokerage account was set up in my brother’s name, and he told me that he felt guilty that our uncle did not leave part of the account to me. He checked with his accountant about gifting part of the account to me, but decided instead to list me on the account as a joint tenant with right of survivorship. My brother’s wife is very angry, and said she is sol