This column first appeared in the San Antonio Express News and other Hearst Newspapers on October 12, 2018. Dear Mr. Premack: My mother recently passed in the state of Texas. She did have a life insurance policy of $10k, and she did have a small amount of cash in a bank account. We have used the life insurance for burial. Will we be subject to MERP? How do we find out? – MG Dear Mr. Premack: Is a home mortgage, whether a regular mortgage or reverse mortgage, paid before a MER

Dear Mr. Premack: My mother owns her own home, and my wife and I have been caring for her in that home for several years. A few weeks ago she started talking about putting title to the house in our names. We are open to the idea, even eager to own this house. I understand that if she gives the house to us now, it may help avoid probate when she dies. We like the upside of owning the house and staying out of court. Are there any downsides to the idea of her giving us title to

Dear Mr. Premack: I have been my mother and disabled sister’s caretaker for several years. The home we live in has a loan in mother’s name only. When my mother became ill I contacted the mortgage company and they stated they just want their money and if something where to happen, I just continue to make payments. Mother passed away a short while later, and I just kept making the payments. Then the bank where she had her auto loan told me I cannot keep the truck and cannot mak