This column first appeared in the San Antonio Express News on August 12, 2016. Texas law recognizes two types of Wills: holographic (that is, handwritten) and attested (that is, witnessed). For a holographic Will to be valid, it must be entirely in its maker’s handwriting, must be signed by its maker, and must be dated. The maker must also, of course, have legal testamentary capacity and the document must express the maker’s intent that it dispose of assets upon death. Assumi

This column first appeared in the San Antonio Express News on August 5, 2016. Inheritance expectations run aground Dear Mr. Premack: My husband and I bought a property a few years ago. He then passed away in 2011 without a Will and I am told I own only half of this property. All I have is an Affidavit of Heirship. I’ve been told that I cannot transfer the property to one of children unless I wait five years. Is this the only option available? The Affidavit of Heirship is date

This column appeared in the Express News on July 27, 2016. According to the article in MySA, Jerika Bolen lives in Appleton, Wisconsin and suffers from type 2 spinal muscular atrophy, a painful and terminal condition. She has indeed decided to turn off her ventilator so she can die peacefully at home with her family. The story is heart-rending, and sadly not unique. Avoiding life-sustaining treatments, which will result in natural death, is very different than ending a life v