This column first appeared in the San Antonio Express News on June 22, 2018. Dear Mr. Premack: I am trying to fully understand deferral of local property taxes. I understand pretty much all of it except the interest rate. I am over 65 and own my principal residence free and clear. The information I have from the state Comptroller’s site says, “annual 5% interest rate.” Is that correct? If my taxes are $5000 per year and I defer them for three years, what will I owe? Are there

This column first appeared in the San Antonio Express-News on June 8, 2018. Dear Mr. Premack: I am agent under my father’s Medical Power of Attorney. He has Alzheimer’s and now, ironically, has terminal cancer. The doctors have been cooperative with implementing DNR orders while he has been in the hospital, but things get inconsistent about life support when he’s moved back to the memory care facility. Is there a way for me to use the Medical Power of Attorney to get all of t

This column first appeared in the San Antonio Express-News on June 1, 2018. Dear Mr. Premack: I worked with our Certified Elder Law Attorney to get all of the assets into my name after my husband died. We had done advance planning with our attorney to avoid probate on our house, and all of our accounts had right of survivorship. We even had our car set up with survivorship rights. Now I’m updating my planning to try avoiding probate when I eventually die. Since I am single no

This column first appeared in the San Antonio Express-News on May 29, 2018. Dear Mr. Premack: I am recently retired and am getting involved with an organization as a volunteer. They asked me if I could use my car to collect supplies and distribute brochures around town. The group is a non-profit, but I wonder if I should tell them that driving is too big a liability. What if I’m in an accident while doing volunteer work? Do I have any protection? – A.K. Volunteering for the b