This column first appeared in the San Antonio Express-News on November 1, 2014 Dear Mr. Premack: I have been living with my significant other for around 30 years, and we have always agreed that we like this arrangement and have no desire to marry. We do take care of each other, and have even both made trusts for our separate assets. His trust says his assets will benefit me for life, and then pass to friends, family members and charities he favors. Mine has similar provisions

The concern you raise has been worrying families for many generations. When you enter into a long term partnership with a spouse, raise a family, work to create financial security and plan for the future, you hope those efforts and plans will be fulfilled even if you are the first to die. You hope that your long terms plans will be honored by your spouse even after your direct influence is gone. Too often that hope is ignored or forgotten by the surviving spouse. The survivor

Dear Mr. Premack: I am one of your dedicated senior readers. I heard the debate between the four Republican candidates for lieutenant governor, and am wondering how their comments about changing the artificial life support law in Texas might affect me? – NL Artificial life support has been in the news a great deal in the last few months with the Jahi McMath matter in California and the Marlise Munoz matter in Texas. According to the Associated Press, during the debate among R