My father (65m) and I (40m) have been estranged for a vast majority of my life. Between 17 and 38 I had not seen or spoken to him directly. He and my mom were separated for at least two decades but not formally divorced. Although I wanted nothing to do with him, my mom would try to encourage me to want to connect with him. Growing up they both lived a fast life. Involved in drugs, in and out of jail, etc. At 9, I was permanently taken in by my grandmother to avoid being put back in the foster care system and lived with her until I want to college because neither of them were at a place of prioritizing raising a child. My mom starting getting her life back together while I was in high school and we reconnected, and got to a good place. He never really did and I always felt he was that he was a negative influenceon her, but I said it was her life. She can do what she wants.

Long story short, my mom passed away 3 years ago at age 54 very suddenly and unexpectedly. I did find out that they started being cordial again and maybe even started actually dating again 3-4 years prior to her passing. I found his number in her phone and informed him. That was the first time I spoke to him since I was 17 and a week and a half later the first time I saw him at the funeral.

Now that the tone is set about our relationship, my mom had me as a beneficiary on all but one account, and did not have anyone listed on the other which was the largest account. Since they are technically married under state intestate law (no will) he as the spouse is entitled to 75% and children (just me) would be entitled to 25%. He decided to sign over all of it to me (this has been two year process with the surrogate court). I live 4 hours away in another state. The court process has made us have to connect multiple times, and I have even begun in my own time to allow myself to talk/text thim and have had a couple of lunches with him.

3 days ago he texted saying he is not doing too well, and is being forced to retire from his job as he is struggling to physically do it (apartment building super). This also means he will soon lose his apartment in the building. Apparently this has been brewing for a while. He randomly said he needs me to cut him a check for 20k to help him get into a new place and set him up to retire. This is nearly half of the amount and he knows I got it from the money my mom had (as part of the court process he knows exactly the amount he was entitled to).

I'm going to give it to him in a cashier's check so he does not have my account number or address. But I feel really torn by this ask. I'm going to give it to him because he was initially legally entitled to it before he signed it over. But AITAH for wanting to not deal with him anymore after this request? What if I would have spent it or paid off debt, instead of saving it? I feel like he owes me the world for not being a good father after decades of not being there. He finally makes something good out of a tragedy to provide something for me, only to feel entitled to want half of it. AITAH?