Mar 02, 2022 · As America continues in its craze over the now $ 640-million pot up for grabs in tonight ‘s Mega Millions lottery, one thing ‘s clear : You probably do n’t actually want to win the lottery .This article is from the archive of our partner . …
Jun 07, 2019 · The Mega Millions jackpot is now worth $530 million, making it the seventh-largest in the game's history. Here's what five experts, including Kevin O'Leary, Suze Orman and Mark Cuban, say to do if ...
Dec 30, 2020 · A good lottery lawyer can protect jackpot winners, their families, and their hard-won cash. You don't necessarily need a lawyer who brands themselves as a lottery lawyer, but you do want someone who has experience managing large windfalls. Good lottery lawyers have experience with taxes, estate planning, setting up trusts, and protecting assets.
Mar 21, 2019 · What to do if you win the lottery RULE #3: Do not change anything (with 3 exceptions) You know all those movies about how a group of criminals gets away with a heist, but one idiot gets the entire crew caught because he goes out the next day and buys a fur coat and a $200,000 car? Do not do that. For 6 months, don’t change anything.
If you won the lottery, the first person you want to hire: an attorney. That’s right, just one. It’s true that you’re going to need all sorts of lawyers who specialize in taxes, trusts, estates, and the like. But, you don’t really need to hire an entire cavalcade immediately.
They can protect you from potential lawsuits and counsel you in such events. A good lottery lawyer will help you find legal ways of minimizing your tax liability. They'll also be able to assist you in setting up a trust or other legal entity to claim your winnings, if you need to.
Some of the benefits of hiring a lottery lawyer are: They can help you keep as much of your winnings as you legally can. They can help protect your identity. They can introduce you to the right people. They can set up your estate for your family's future.
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:
Kurland has also represented some of the biggest winners in recent lottery history, including: Putnam Avenue Family Trust: Also known as the winner of the $254 million Powerball jackpot of November 2011. Rainbow Sherbert Trust: Also known as the winner of the $336 million Powerball jackpot of March 2012.
As an attorney and CPA that’s been practicing for more than 30 years, Kurt Panouses is one lawyer you’d want on your shortlist. Not only does he offer services ranging from drafting simple wills to assisting in million-dollar business transactions, Panouses also provides counsel and guidance to lottery winners.
Walt Blenner. Walt Blenner (inset) and client Shane Missler. Practicing out of Tampa Bay, Walt Blenner is a personal injury lawyer who also dabbles in estate planning. And yes, he also represents lottery winners.
O’Leary, a financial expert and investor “Shar k Tank,” says to take the lump sum, don’t spend it. “Pay yourself an annuity,” he tells CNBC Make It, “and put the excess cash flow to work for you. More money up front means more money to invest and grow.”
Before deciding what to do with the cash, you should “take time to reflect with your family on how you would like to make the most of this money to create a more fulfilling life, make an impact and — importantly — make it last.”. Torabi also advises keeping the news to yourself, if possible.
Kevin O’Leary. The Mega Millions jackpot is now the seventh-largest in the game’s history, worth $530 million. And after Friday night’s drawing, one lucky winner could become an instant multi-millionaire.
When it comes to managing your winnings, don’t do anything right away, Farnoosh Torabi, personal finance author and host of the “So Money” podcast, tells CNBC Make It.
This should be obvious. Take it from Shane Missler, who won the Mega Millions jackpot and immediately posted about it on Facebook. It wasn't long before he was caught right in the middle of a social media scandal, with hundreds of people hounding him for handouts.
Speaking of professionals, there are two more people we recommend hiring: 1 A financial adviser : You'll want to work with an expert who can show you how to manage your newfound wealth. A financial adviser will help you figure out what to spend your winnings on, where to invest, and how to plan for your future. They can guarantee that your money stays safe, and continues to grow. 2 An accountant : If you're thinking long-term – and you should be – get an account to help keep track of your finances. You should be busy growing your money or enjoying it. Leave the number crunching to someone you can depend on.
And trust us, they will come looking. Having a publicly visible profile also means that anyone who knows your name can potentially have access to even more of your personal information.
A financial adviser : You'll want to work with an expert who can show you how to manage your newfound wealth. A financial adviser will help you figure out what to spend your winnings on, where to invest, and how to plan for your future. They can guarantee that your money stays safe, and continues to grow.
From a financial perspective, giving away to charity has its advantages. It reduces your tax liability, and in some cases, by a significant margin. We recommend doing some research and find some causes you'd like to support, or charities you want to donate to.
From a moral perspective, supporting a charity is arguably the right thing to do – especially if your winnings are in the hundreds of millions of dollars. There's a lot of good you can do with that amount of money, and you probably don't really need all of it anyway. Ask your lawyer for help on how to go about this step.
In many cases, any money you owe the government will automatically be deducted from your prize money. But don't forget about other liabilities that you have: mortgages, car loans, credit card bills, etc.
Big lottery winners may feel overwhelmed by the number of decisions they have to make before they even claim a jackpot. To make things even more confusing, each state that participates in the lottery has its own procedures for claiming a prize and for minimizing tax liability. That's why a lawyer's help really comes in handy.
If you've just won a bundle of cash, you might balk at giving a big chunk of it to a lawyer right off the bat. However, hiring a good lawyer really pays off in the long run. Here are some examples of what lottery lawyers do for jackpot winners:
Winners spend a lot of time with their financial team, so it's important to find someone they trust and feel comfortable with. And of course, the lawyer should be familiar with the unique problems lottery winners face.
If you win a large prize in a lottery, getting a good lawyer should be a priority. You'll want to have representation before you tell anyone outside of your immediate circle of family and trusted friends that you've won, and certainly before you claim your prize.