Q: Some big lotteries lately. If you win, if you get that lucky, isn’t it risky to let the public know? Do you have to come forward?
M.R., Inglewood
A: Certain states allow lottery winners to remain anonymous: Kansas, Delaware, Maryland, North Dakota, Ohio, Texas and South Carolina. A few states allow winners to form a trust for their windfall. So these folks may be able to keep their identity concealed by setting up a trust.
California does not permit lottery winners to hide their identities. State law, in fact, requires winners to reveal their names and locations.
Q: Why does California require lottery winners to disclose their identities and is there anything that can be done to try to protect yourself from full-scale intrusion?
K.L., Pasadena
A: The rationale for requiring disclosure in California is that many public officials claim anonymous winners will undermine the integrity of the state’s lotteries. If winners can conceal themselves, it is at least possible Powerball, Mega Millions and Super Lotto Plus could falsely announce there was “an anonymous winner.” Since the winner has to come forward, the argument goes, there will be an actual person, not a fiction.
There are some steps that can be taken for a winner to seek to shield their interests from an overt public spotlight: Change your cell phone number, change your email address, reject or simply do not answer texts or phone calls from numbers you do not recognize, and spend time with a quality, trustworthy financial advisor. A trust can also be set up, albeit after the fact, but that option remains.
Winner
Should you be so fortunate to win the lottery, there is an informative booklet available online entitled “Winner’s Handbook.” In your web browser, type “Lottery, Winner’s Handbook.” It addresses a number of important issues, from taxes to estate planning.
Ron Sokol has been a practicing attorney for over 40 years, and has also served many times as a judge pro tem, mediator, and arbitrator. It is important to keep in mind that this column presents a summary of the law, and is not to be treated or considered legal advice, let alone a substitute for actual consultation with a qualified professional.
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