Jan 20, 2021 · Billed as the “go-to attorney for jackpot winners,” Jason Kurland is often called upon by the national media for lottery commentaries. Whenever jackpots reach record highs, expect him to give his 2 cents. Kurland has also represented some of the biggest winners in recent lottery history, including:
Dec 30, 2020 · And of course, the lawyer should be familiar with the unique problems lottery winners face. It's not a decision that any winner should make lightly. In 2020, self-branded lottery lawyer Jason Kurland was indicted for defrauding his clients of over $100 million. You don't want to trust an unscrupulous person with your winnings.
You can expect a high-profile lottery lawyer like Jason Kurland, who is widely known as the “The Lottery Lawyer” and has been featured on major news publications such as CBS, CNN, and Fox, to charge on the higher side of these fees.
Call The Loeffler Law Firm (419-732-1041) for legal representation in both determining the best options for claiming the prize, maintaining privacy (if that is desired) and then protecting the proceeds through proper asset protection and estate planning strategies.
What to Do Before Claiming Your PrizeProtect Your Ticket. ... Don't Rush to Claim Your Prize. ... Don't Quit Your Job or Spread News of Your Good Fortune. ... Hire Professionals. ... Change Your Address & Go Unlisted. ... Taking the Lump-Sum Payout. ... Taking the Long-Term Payout. ... Consult With the Professionals You Hired.More items...
irrevocable blind trustAn irrevocable blind trust is also the best way to maintain fairness and harmony among multiple winners. For example, if you purchased your winning ticket with a group of office mates, as long as everyone is in agreement, you can set up a blind trust with all the winners as beneficiaries.
When you hit the lottery, hiring a lawyer will help to protect your identity. This saves you from not only putting a paper bag over your head when you go out in public, but also so that people out there do not try to steal your identity or try to collect your earnings by posing as you.
The best financial advisor for lottery winners will work with you even before you receive the money. They will be a critical resource to help prepare you for the money and help you create a comprehensive financial plan.
Another way is to not tell anyone you scored the jackpot or change much of your lifestyle to avoid having your identity revealed. Deleting social media accounts, changing phone numbers, and addresses can also be an alternative to remaining anonymous.Aug 19, 2021
Essentially, there is no limit to the amount of lottery winnings you can gift to a family member. This relates to the general rule that you can gift however much money you like. That said, any amount of money gifted that's above your annual allowances could be subject to inheritance tax.Nov 26, 2021
Bank deposit accounts are a good place for a portion of your lottery winnings. The accounts are liquid, so you can withdraw money regularly. A certificate of deposit allows you to earn a higher interest rate, but you must promise to keep the money in the account for a specified period of time or pay a penalty.Jan 28, 2019
approximately six to eight weeksIf you elected the cash option or if your prize is only offered in a single payment, your check should arrive approximately six to eight weeks from your claim date. If your prize is to be paid in installments, your first payment should be available within six to eight weeks from your claim date.
Right now only seven states allow lottery winners to maintain their anonymity: Delaware, Kansas, Maryland, North Dakota, Texas, Ohio and South Carolina. And six states also allow people to form a trust to claim prize money anonymously. California entirely forbids lottery winners to remain anonymous.
Take a deep breath and take your time. You have a set amount of time to turn in your ticket, so don't run off to the lottery office first thing the next morning. Let yourself calm down, and then set to work carefully forming your team and plans before you contact the lottery officials.
Some of these winners made silly mistakes while others found their winning tickets to be deadly:$5.4 million – Gambling the winnings away.$2 million – Stealing cars. ... $1 million – Buying a ticket and forgetting about it. ... $1 million – Throwing the ticket in the garbage. ... $750,000 – Handing the ticket over to a friend. ... More items...
If you win the lottery in the US, the very first decision you’ll need to make is how to collect your winnings. Will you take a lump sum or yearly instalments spread out over several decades? Both options come with different tax implications that affect the amount of money you will receive in the end.
Most financial experts recommend setting up a lottery trust with a lawyer before you even think about collecting your winnings. Maintaining anonymity after winning the lottery is a major concern and is the primary way to protect yourself and your money.
Wealthy people have complex assets that need serious planning for the future. An estate planning lawyer can ensure a smooth transition of wealth and minimize legal and tax costs for your heirs.
Despite their best efforts, lottery winners are frequently targeted by scammers who are after their money. Hopefully, you’ve followed lottery experts’ advice to remain anonymous, which should reduce the target on your back.
consider two separate safe keeping receptacles); Maintain as much privacy and limit disclosure of the winning ticket as much possible; Consider claiming the winning lottery prize through a "blind trust" to protect your identity.
The Facts. Being a lottery winner can be an exciting, yet potentially stressful event. There are both immediate and long term decisions to make which can affect one's lifestyle, privacy and even the amount of the eventual lottery winnings. Bo understands this. He has been through the "winning lottery ticket" experience with lottery winners and his advice has been also sought out by attorneys who have themselves had lottery winners for clients.
Tips for After You Win 1 Be discreet. If you have won the lottery, tell as few people as possible. Do not post on social media and just keep the news between your most close and trusted family members for now. 2 Get ready to be targeted. You will soon learn that people will start targeting you for money. Old friends and family members may call in favors or demand to be paid “old debts.” Strangers may even call looking for a handout. Charities and other organizations may try and get money out of you. Whenever there is a large sum of money at stake, people can be downright ruthless to try and get their cut. 3 Get a lawyer. You need to secure legal help to make sure that disputes are resolved, and claims are settled internally and quickly. Our Florida Attorneys at Whittel & Melton can help you with tax issues, creating trusts, and handle all other legal documents that will create a barrier around your fortune. These steps are vital to guaranteeing that your fortune will be safe.
Hitting the jackpot is an amazing new start for lottery and casino prize winners.
While winning the lottery can bring financial security to prize winners, but it does not come without its challenges. Once a person wins the lottery, they will instantly be bombarded by family members and friends, or at least those claiming to be kin.
Powerball tickets are sold in 44 states, as well as in Washington, D.C., the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico. As of last time we looked, all but six states require lottery winners to come forward publicly. Delaware, Kansas, Maryland, North Dakota, Ohio and South Carolina allow winners to remain anonymous. Many other states are in the process of enacting such laws- some may even require you to donate some money to charity if you want to remain anonymous. Other states permit winners to create limited liability companies, so that when their names have to be announced, it’s the companies and not individuals that are identified. Think seriously about that.
Delaware, Kansas, Maryland, North Dakota, Ohio and South Carolina allow winners to remain anonymous. Many other states are in the process of enacting such laws- some may even require you to donate some money to charity if you want to remain anonymous.
Make safe moves, and by all means, don’t show it off or brag about it . It’s like Kenny Rogers said (with my own personal remix): Every gambler knows. That the secret to survivin’. Is knowin’ what to throw away. And knowin’ what to keep (locked in a safe) ‘Cause every hand’s a winner. And every hand’s a loser.
You won’t believe the tax issues which could come up- state taxes, federal taxes, gift taxes, corporate taxes and other taxes even the game Monopoly didn’t try to make up. The lawyer can help with this, as they have a fiduciary (financial) duty to you.
You may need to add “member,” “partner” or “trustee,” etc. You won’t get paid for a month or so, according to most sources. This not only gives you time to get things in order, but can be an excruciating wait.
Uncle Sam (and Aunt Samantha) will be First in Line. We do not recommend following in the footsteps of the characters in Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, which was based on two trips to Las Vegas, Nevada, that Hunter S. Thompson took with his attorney Oscar Zeta Acosta in March and April 1971.
Although disputes can happen and custody can be disputed, whoever signs the ticket and presents a photo ID can claim the prize. You may be requested to verify where you bought it and/or how you obtained custody.
Congratulations if you win a large lottery prize. You are one of the lucky few. Buying the winning ticket was the most important step to start your new financial situation.
If you live in Dallas, Collin, Rockwall, Tarrant, or Denton counties and would like the kind of experience, integrity, and IRS tax representation attorney Stanton D. Goldberg provides — call us at 972-960-2200 or contact us at our Dallas, Texas, law office today.
The Attorney. This is the first person to hire. An attorney can help you keep the ticket safe until you have your team in place to help you handle your winnings. An attorney may advise you to set up a trust and transfer “ownership” of the ticket to the trust, for which you are the sole trustee.
After the government takes their initial cut, there are still more taxes to pay. The challenge for any lottery winner is getting over the psychological shock and adjusting to the identity of a wealthy person.
You’ll still receive your winnings, but the trust can save you on taxes. The Financial Advisor. This person will help you set up accounts that keep your money growing in order to guarantee a safe income for you throughout your lifetime.
Many states permit a lottery winner to utilize a blind trust to claim the winning monies in order to protect the winner’s identity and privacy. Most people think taking the lump sum is the smart move. That’s not always the case.