Lottery Attorney in Sharon, MA
Keep Your Lottery Win Confidential – What Massachusetts Winners Should Know
Winning the lottery is exciting, but it also brings serious decisions—especially about privacy. In Massachusetts, lottery winners are not allowed to stay fully anonymous like they are in some other states. That doesn’t mean you’re out of options.
At Estate & Elder Law Advisory, we help individuals and families in Sharon and surrounding communities plan ahead to protect their identity, assets, and peace of mind.
Why Stay Private After Winning?
If your name and photo are made public, you may receive calls, emails, or even visits from people asking for money—sometimes even from people you don’t know.
Unfortunately, Massachusetts law does not currently allow full anonymity for lottery winners. But there are legal tools that can help protect your identity and reduce unwanted attention.
Step 1:
Step 1: Consider Creating a Lottery Trust
A lottery trust is one way to claim your prize while limiting how much personal information is shared. Instead of claiming the winnings in your own name, you can set up a trust and have a trustee (which can be you or someone you appoint) claim the prize on behalf of the trust.
This may help keep your name out of the spotlight while allowing you to safely receive your winnings.
Step 2: Protect the Ticket
Once you realize you have a winning ticket, here’s what to do:
- Keep it safe – Store it in a fireproof safe or another secure place.
- Don’t delay – You must claim most prizes within a year, so act promptly.
- Be careful about signing – If you want to create a trust, contact us before you sign the back of the ticket. Signing too early may limit your options. If you need to sign it, leave room for adding the trust’s name later.
Step 3: Talk to a Lawyer Before Claiming the Prize
It’s important to speak with an attorney before claiming your winnings. Our team can help you:
- Set up a lottery trust or other legal tools
- Sign the ticket properly to protect your claim
- Represent the trust when the prize is claimed at the lottery office
- Help you think through long-term planning, like taxes, gifts, and charitable donations
As Attorney Artika Angel says:
“Winning the lottery may be a stroke of luck—but what you do next should be a well-planned choice.”
Step 4: Keep It Quiet
Word spreads quickly, and once it's out, it can’t be taken back.
As exciting as it may be, telling others about your win can create problems. Word spreads quickly, and once it’s out, it can’t be taken back. Only share the news with people you fully trust—and only after you’ve created a legal plan to protect yourself.
Ready to Talk?
If you’ve won the lottery—or think you might have—don’t wait.
Reach out now to protect your privacy and your future.
Let us help you protect what matters—because luck may be random, but planning shouldn’t be.
