Posted on 02/05/2018 5:05:55 PM PST by NRx
The winning numbers triple-checked and the lottery ticket signed, the New Hampshire woman knew her life was about to change in a very positive way — except for one petrifying thing.
As the winner of last month’s $560 million Powerball, she would soon be the world’s newest owner of a nine-digit bank account.
But because of lottery rules, everyone in the world would know about it — neighbors, old high school friends, con artists, criminals.
Now the woman is asking a judge to let her keep the cash — and remain anonymous. In court documents obtained by NewHampshire.com, she is fittingly identified only as Jane Doe.
“She is a longtime resident of New Hampshire and is an engaged community member,” the woman’s attorney, Steven Gordon, wrote in the court documents. “She wishes to continue this work and the freedom to walk into a grocery store or attend public events without being known or targeted as the winner of a half-billion dollars.”
On one side of the case are lottery officials who say the integrity of the games depends on the public identification of its winners as a protection against fraud and malfeasance. A local woman holding up a giant check while cameras flash and reporters scrawl also happens to be a powerful marketing tool.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
She could have but she signed the ticket in her own name. Had she waited until after a trust had been created she could have signed in the trust’s name. She asked if she could change it but the lottery commission said no.
Show up wearing a disguise.
“...Most states don’t allow that. They require the actual beneficiaries of any trust claiming lottery prizes to be names....”
I’d sure find a way somehow. It would suck to have your name tied to this and I can’t say as I don’t blame her. As a big winner, you’d get about 1500 pieces of mail/day soliciting for money, you’d end up with “friends & family” you didn’t know you ever had all wanting big handout, people camping out in front of your house hoping to catch you in order to beg, you’d have to hire armed security for yourself, kids and any pets to keep them all from being killed or kidnapped. Life as you know it would be ruined. But hey, with that kind of money, she might be able to get into the witness protection program....LOL.
Yeah, like pay them!
Least of her worries.
I hope you would get a good lawyer and cap before acting on your advice.
“If its a tax on the stupid how did she win ?”
According to the Census Bureau, “Quick Facts”, about 143.7 million people play the lottery in the US; some of them get lucky, the rest - I’d guess about 140 million of them - are best described by some other adjective.
That is good. Hadn’t thought of that, will have to redo my ‘list’....
I have a laundry list of what I will do when I hit (Only play when take home is 150 million + - don’t play for any less as I don’t want to waste my luck on 50 million).
I figure to take ONE lawyer and 1 banker aside, hire them for a goodly sum, have the lawyer search every known record around me, find out who & what I owe have ever and possibly still owe, add a % to it and have them sign an agreement that we are EVEN.
Borrow money to cover above, get everything in order and claim winnings in 3 or 4 months.
ETC ETC
Have to use the old trick of the fairly well off guy marrying into a family of 13 with plenty of relatives.
When asked how he was going to protect his money he said
‘Simple. I will loan to all the poor ones and borrow from those who may have something.
After that they ALL will never want to see me again’.
No way. You know the rules. Use it or lose it.
If you don't like the rules don't play the game.Winner Privacy
New Hampshire state law requires the winner's name, town and amount won be available for public information. This is in accordance with RSA 91-A. A winner's street address and phone number are not considered public information. See Chapter Sw 600 rules for Prize Claims and Chapter Sw 500 rules for Prize Assignments for applicable rules and regulations.
I knew some people back in the 80s that had to sweat it out for a year on collecting a $40 million jackpot. It was tax issues.
I hope she hangs in there and prevails.
If I won a lottery, I want to show up in a lucho libre mask and a cape.
I would cash in and run. Move somewhere no one would know me
The simple fix is to just move after you get your money, right?
However, if I recall, a lawyer can set up a shell company that he can then represent, claiming that the lotto ticket was a multi-buy from employees. Therefore, the money in sum would be awarded to the company itself.
In Texas, if you have a CCW license (LTC) you can wear your weapon openly even in the Capitol building. Make sure you are open carrying when they take the picture.
Exactly!
She should be thrilled not to pay any state taxes.
Change her name, collect the money.
It would have to be a double-blind trust. Otherwise anyone who inquires about the trust the state will tell them.
The winner of the largest jackpot worked in the same building with me. She picked up her check the next day. Big mistake.
She has since changed her name and moved for a while. She is building a nice house in a town where no one knows her.
It’s nice to win all that money, but the creeps come out of the woodwork. We were getting calls for her two and three weeks after she won.
Hillary?
I’d also put all the money except reasonable living expenses in a trust.
When all the long lost friends and relatives show up...”I’m sorry, all of my money is managed by my attorney. If you’d like to request monetary assistance, he has a simple 15 page grant request you may complete for his approval.”
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