He passed with 5 children to share estate equally. He owns several properties and other stocks as well, all to be shared equally. He lived in NY and I live in GA. Are there different laws for the 2 states. Want to protect myself. Siblings want all $ distributed immediately from joint acct, and say I can just write a check for all their share. It exceeds the amount allowed for gifts per year. I understand that is the law I would have to comply with. If so they are asking for their spouses or partners to receive checks also and if need be do checks for 2016 & again Jan 1, 2017. I would like some kind of release signed that they accept their portion be paid to both them and their partners.