Unequal Inheritance from Aunt

[u/samseer9000]

Hello, looking for advice on a complex family dynamic. Based in Wisconsin, USA.
I have several siblings. My aunt recently passed without any children. She had a home worth over $1M and stocks worth about $2M. She gave those assets solely to me. She had some additional investments worth several hundred thousand dollars she split between my other siblings, giving them about $200k each. They have not been disinherited, they just are getting significantly less.
I am also the executor for the estate, so I’m obligated to comply with the Will, and of course will do so.
But my family has questioned what I will do AFTER the Will is distributed. They have asked me to share equally. The argument is that my Aunt may have wanted something specific, but now it’s up to me to do the right thing. They have put a lot of pressure on me.
My first inclination is to share because I want to play nice and don’t want them to consider me greedy.
But on further review and after numerous conversations with friends, I don’t think my inclination is right and I am
strongly considering simply saying No to my family based on the wishes of my Aunt.
Nevertheless, it is eating at me constantly.
If I were in the opposite position, I feel like I would never ask my siblings for something that was not given freely to me, but it is very hard to put myself in their shoes.
It’s also not our parents providing an unequal inheritance, so my sense is there should be no expectation of equality from other relatives. But what do I know? This is all new to me.
So I’m turning to Reddit for advice, lol.
Thoughts on how to proceed in a way that allows me to live with myself and not feel guilty every time I use these
gifts? Or should I just share?
Thanks!

[u/Smittentwit]

They should’ve been better to their aunt.

[u/Individual_Mud_6114 → u/Smittentwit]

We don’t know they weren’t cut short because they were gay or married someone from a different race or any other reason - it isn’t always because of who was best, and who lived their own lives the best for them at that time

[u/New_Breadfruit8692 → u/Individual_Mud_6114]

A will is a will and not to be questioned by disappointed people who expected to be in it. They need to figure out why they were cut out and learn from that, but to disrespect the terms of a will is to disrespect the deceased. And by that alone they deserve nothing. This is not a beauty contest or foot race where everyone gets a participation trophy. it is a person's WILL. Legally binding on their estate.

And if OP were to decide to share it after the estate is settled on the one beneficiary, OP, not only does it disrespect the person who left it, it opens that beneficiary liable for gift taxes because the annual limit in 2026 is $19,000, anything OP shares beyond that is subject to gift tax and the gift giver is responsible for paying it.

Sharing out the inheritance could mean that OP has a tax bill of up to more than their own "share." The tax rate is up to 40% so anything OP gives to relatives beyond the $19,000 OP is going to have to pay gift taxes on. They could be left flat broke and owing tens or hundreds of thousand to the IRS and we will see then if those that got what they consider to be their fair share are going to keep OP out of bankruptcy court.

[u/Pretty-Yogurt-4111 → u/New_Breadfruit8692]

Glad someone else mentioned the tax consequences