Throwaway!
I (25F), just inherited a lot of money from my deceased mother. She passed away unexpectedly not too long ago. My parents got divorced when I was 10. My mom got remarried a year later and had 2 kids with my stepdad. So, my half-sibling are 12M and 10F. My mom and I were very close growing up. After the divorce, I technically did live with her and visited with my dad on weekends. My stepdad was nice, but I never felt like I was truly a part of that family, though. My mom had let it be known that she was going to set me up for life because she realized that my father was not very set up. So, when my mom passed, she left everything to me. In her will, it was written that she wanted me to use the money for my education, future, and general well-being. She left a lesser amount in a trust for my half-siblings that they could access when they reached 18, but the main body of her estate went to me, of course. Lately, my stepdad has been insisting that I share the money my mom left me with my half-siblings. The reason he has given is that my mom would never have wanted one of her children to live better than the others, and they are still minors, after all. Sorry, but I think my mom had her reasons for writing her will the way she did so precisely. My dad says that I should not feel guilty about honoring my mom's wishes. But my stepdad, and even some of my extended family, are painting me as selfish and greedy. They're of the opinion that I'm putting money ahead of the best interests of the family and that I should be considering the needs of my half-siblings down the line. I love my half-siblings, and at this point, I feel a greater responsibility is to honor my mom's wishes. I am caught between what I feel is right and the pressure from my stepdad and extended family.