The Legal Brief
YOU JUST WON THE LOTTERY, NOW WHAT?
December 1, 2025
By: Steven P. Mutersbaugh and Ty K. Green
Introduction
Imagine you just won the lottery! What’s your next move? Will you call your family and friends? Rush to the Ohio Lottery Office? Or just keep it a secret? Even daydreams deserve a plan. If you prefer to keep your good fortune private—even from distant relatives—you should consider crafting a strategy. Part of your plan will likely involve remaining anonymous, setting up one or more Trusts, and assembling a team of professionals, such as an attorney, CPA, and financial advisor to guide your next steps.
I. Anonymity
Should you claim your winnings anonymously? Tim Schultz, who won the Powerball jackpot in 1999, shared that it altered his life and relationships forever.[1] Not every state allows winners to remain anonymous. For example, Iowa did not offer this option when Tim won. Tim said “if I [was] 21 now and had the option, I would consider claiming the prize anonymously . . . You never know what impact that would have on your life.”[2] Although Tim didn’t have the chance to remain anonymous, you can in Ohio.
II. Ohio Lottery Trusts
According to R.C. 3770.07, if you win the lottery in Ohio, you have 180 days to claim your prize money. For transparency, Ohio requires that your information be made public when you claim your winnings. However, R.C. 3770.07 allows you to remain anonymous by having a Trustee claim the prize on your behalf.
Achieving complete anonymity while implementing your estate plan involves creating two trusts. For your “Lottery Trust”, you will want to choose a Trustee who is a trusted individual to accept the winnings on your behalf. The second trust will ultimately receive the winnings. The Trustee’s information and the name of your Lottery Trust will be public information; therefore, avoid using personal identifiers in the Lottery Trust name. Examples of previous winning Lottery Trusts are: "The Lucky Duck Passive Trust," "The Wish This Had Happened Sooner Trust," and "The Mom's Birthday Trust." By keeping personal identifiers out, and selecting your Trustee to claim your winnings, you can keep your identity private while still receiving your prize and executing your plan.
Once you collect your winnings, having the Trustee of your Lottery Trust disburse your funds into the second trust allows for more effective utilization of your funds. Your Trust can have a more formal name and include personal identifiers. It will be utilized to implement your estate plan, business goals, or make various distributions over time. By implementing this plan, you will achieve two goals: maintaining your anonymity and ensuring that your Trust operates as you desire.
At Jackson Kelly, we have helped clients navigate the many unique complexities that come when someone unexpectedly wins the lottery. We have the necessary experience to help you navigate this fun and exciting time.
[1] Kitti Palmai, I won $28 million in the lottery when I was 21. It changed everything., Business Insider (June 1, 2024, 7:30 AM), https://www.businessinsider.com/lottery-winner-powerball-became-millionaire-2024-5.
[2] Id.