Lawyers contact N.H. Lottery about $487 million jackpot

Aug 31, 2016, 1:30 pm (40 comments)

Powerball

July's half-billion dollar Powerball jackpot winner in New Hampshire has yet to come forward, but the New Hampshire Lottery said it has heard several times from lawyers who may represent the lucky ticket-holder.

The $487 million prize was the eighth-largest jackpot in U.S. history and the fifth-largest Powerball jackpot.

Lawyers have contacted the lottery several times since the jackpot, according to New Hampshire Lottery spokeswoman Maura McCann.

"They wanted to know what the process entails," McCann said. "They were asking about the completion of a claim form, the choice between the annuitized jackpot payment or the cash payment, taxes, things like that."

McCann said the lottery has still not received any word about who the winner is or when he or she will come forward. The winner has a year from the drawing date of July 30 to claim the prize.

"We certainly hope that we'll see something over the next few days or weeks," McCann said. "We can't wait to award this prize to the lucky winner."

Boston Globe

Comments

RJOh's avatarRJOh

Sounds like the kinds of information they could have gotten off their website. Wink

music*'s avatarmusic*

Quote: Originally posted by RJOh on Aug 31, 2016

Sounds like the kinds of information they could have gotten off their website. Wink

RJOh, I agree. They need to visit Lottery Post and USAMEGA.com

 The lottery folks say,"They can't wait to give this money to the winner or winners."  That decision is being made by the winner(s) and the lawyers.

 It appears that these lucky players are getting their ducks in a row. Which most States urge us to do. Take life slow. Slow down.

 They have the rest of their lives to plan out and enjoy.

Ain't the lottery GRAND!!

Bleudog101

Forgot all about this jackpot not being claimed!

music*'s avatarmusic*

 I believe that in New Hampshire a winner is allowed to claim using a Trust. They could remain anonymous this way.

 I hope that their lawyers, financial advisers, and accountants know about using Trusts.

Dance

helpmewin's avatarhelpmewin

Wow NH i wonder if it could be Mr,Steve Player. Congratulations to the BIG WINNER. Party Hurray!

Albeone

The attorneys are probably looking for clarification about New Hampshire's rules on claiming a prize. There is information on a Trust claiming lottery winnings in the lottery rules section on their website. The winner(s) appear to be handling this the right way so far.

TheGameGrl's avatarTheGameGrl

Fact: Persons claiming to be lawyers contacted the NH lottery and asked questions

FACT: All other information is open to exercise...aka, jumping to conclusions.

When the ticket is claimed more can be confirmed.

EdG1955

Quote: Originally posted by RJOh on Aug 31, 2016

Sounds like the kinds of information they could have gotten off their website. Wink

But the lawyers wouldn't run up as many billable hours if they just looked on the website.

Artist77's avatarArtist77

Quote: Originally posted by EdG1955 on Aug 31, 2016

But the lawyers wouldn't run up as many billable hours if they just looked on the website.

Lol Agreed. This is why you do your due diligence and hire an attorney with lottery experience and not someone's cousin.

Redd55

Quote: Originally posted by Albeone on Aug 31, 2016

The attorneys are probably looking for clarification about New Hampshire's rules on claiming a prize. There is information on a Trust claiming lottery winnings in the lottery rules section on their website. The winner(s) appear to be handling this the right way so far.

From the NH Lottery website: 

New Hampshire state law requires the winner's name, town and amount won be available for public information in accordance with RSA 91-A. A winner's street address and phone number is not considered public information. 

Albeone

Quote: Originally posted by Redd55 on Aug 31, 2016

From the NH Lottery website: 

New Hampshire state law requires the winner's name, town and amount won be available for public information in accordance with RSA 91-A. A winner's street address and phone number is not considered public information. 

I found this info on the rules page of the NH lottery website. And there are also several news clips online showing lottery winners claiming through a trust in NH.

PRIZE CLAIMS
Sw 602.01 Payments.

(a) No prize shall be paid without the physical possession of a winning ticket or a valid subscription recorded in the Lottery's central computer system.

(b) Each Lottery ticket, whether instant or on-line, shall be a bearer instrument until such time as a signature is placed in the designated area on the back of the ticket.

(c) When a player has a winning ticket, he/she shall complete the reverse side of the ticket with his/her name, address and signature.

(d) Prizes, not to exceed $599, shall be paid by any:
Participating Lottery sales agent;
State liquor store; or
Lottery Commission headquarters.
(e) Prizes exceeding $599, shall be claimed at the Lottery Commission headquarters only.

(f) The claimant shall complete a winner claim form with the following:
Name;
Address;
Telephone number;
Social security number; and
Claimant signature and date.
(g) The Commission shall prepare a prize check and a federal W2-G, Certain Gambling Winnings, form which shall be signed by the winner. Pursuant to Internal Revenue Code Section 3402(q)(1) and the Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001, Sec. 101 (a), Table 7, prizes exceeding $5,000 shall be subject to applicable federal income tax withholding.

Source. #7167, eff 12-21-99; amd by #7705, eff 6-8-02; ss by #8365,

eff 6-2-05

Sw 602.02 Identification.
(a) At the time a claim of over $599 is made, the claimant shall furnish any of the following documentation to the Commission for purposes of identification:
A motor vehicle driver's license issued by the state of New Hampshire, or a valid driver's license issued by another state, or province of Canada, which bears the name, address and date of birth of the licensee;
An identification card issued by the director of motor vehicles under the provisions of RSA 260:21, or any picture identification card issued by another state which bears the name, address and date of birth of the individual;
An armed services identification card; or
A valid passport from the United States or from a country with whom the United States maintains diplomatic relations.
(b) Photographic identification presented under this section shall be consistent with the appearance of the person, shall not be expired, and shall be correct and free of alteration, erasure, blemish, or other impairment.

(c) If the claimant is under the age of 16, and does not have photographic identification, the claimant shall present a valid social security card for verification by the Commission.

(d) If the claimant is a trust, the individual named as trustee shall furnish photographic identification to the Commission at the time of the claim. Acceptable forms of identification shall be those documents listed in Sw 602.02(a).

(e) If the claim is being filed by another individual on behalf of the claimant, the claimant's original picture identification or a photostatic copy of the claimant's picture identification as well as the filing individual's original picture identification shall be presented to the Commission at the time of the claim.

Artist77's avatarArtist77

The attorney can be named as trustee until the money is claimed. There would be a separate private trust agreement between the attorney and the winner and the trust could be revocable by the winner and end 5 seconds after the money is claimed...so the winner is the successor trustee. Trust agreements are not public documents generally.

Redd55

Anybody can form a trust and the lottery will cut the check in the name of the trust. But the name of the winner is still public information in NH. 

Artist77's avatarArtist77

Quote: Originally posted by Redd55 on Aug 31, 2016

Anybody can form a trust and the lottery will cut the check in the name of the trust. But the name of the winner is still public information in NH. 

Oops part e. What a ripoff then. The trust is useless.

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