Man who won millions from lottery during divorce case must share

Comment #21

Stack47 — Sun, 23 Jun 2019 22:25:28 GMT

You might be right because I hit their pick-4 straight a few years ago and the claims form I filled out is almost the same.

Comment #20

jjtheprince14 — Sun, 23 Jun 2019 21:58:57 GMT

It s Michigan, he ll just win again because it s way too easy to win lotteries there.

Comment #19

Artist77 — Fri, 21 Jun 2019 22:57:46 GMT

All state lotteries provide financial forms that ask for your marital status. These documents are provided for tax purposes. Most if not all also ask who gets your money if you die before it hits your account. That is why one notes on the form...in accordance with my estate plans, assuming you have estate plans. If not, you have to note a designated beneficiary. This is standard operating procedure for any unusually large financial transaction, lottery related or not.

Comment #18

EdG1955 — Fri, 21 Jun 2019 21:35:36 GMT

She earned 3 times as much income as he did during their marriage. From the justia link supplied by CDanaT: Plaintiff [Mary] worked as a sales associate earning between $100,000 and $120,000 annually. Defendant [Richard] owned his own business and earned approximately $36,000 annually.

Richard sounds like a real loser. His wife supported his lifestyle during their marriage. After winning the lottery, he refused to give any money for support of his children. And most poetically, he was the id... [ More ]

Comment #17

KY Floyd — Fri, 21 Jun 2019 17:02:36 GMT

had Michigan been an anonymous state, do you think he could have pulled a fast one

It's been tried before. Maybe somebody has gotten away with it, but in at least one case it backfired badly with a judge awarding the entire prize to the ex-spouse.

There's absolutely no reason that the claim form needs to inquire about marital status, and it doesn't. The lottery needs to know your taxpayer ID number, but other than withholding and remitting funds to the IRS they're not involved in your tax... [ More ]

Comment #16

Sorrento — Fri, 21 Jun 2019 15:13:33 GMT

I'm not surprised. They weren't officially divorced, therefore the winnings were part of the marital assets to be divided up. They could have saved a pile of money on lawyer fees if they'd just accepted that. Divided in two, that amount of money is plenty to live on very comfortably if you're wise. I can't see how the case could have gone any other way. Even if he was officially divorced, the wife would probably sue for increased child support and likely win.

Comment #15

CDanaT — Fri, 21 Jun 2019 11:47:46 GMT

law.justia.com/cases/michigan/court-of-appeals-unpublished/2015/324514.html

This will give you a bit more info on the divorce proceedings Between Dick and Mary Zelasko

Comment #14

Artist77 — Thu, 20 Jun 2019 21:18:22 GMT

Property is property regardless of the luck factor.

So, in a reverse situation with you winning a jp, you would have expected your separated spouse to waive his share

Comment #13

Stack47 — Thu, 20 Jun 2019 20:06:19 GMT

Ohio might be an anonymous claiming state but their lottery's claim form asks if the winners if they defaulted on child or spousal support.

I am / am not (circle one) in default of an administrative or court order in Ohio requiring the payment of child or spousal support (Knowingly making a false affirmation regarding default under a child or spousal support order is a criminal offense under Revised Code section 3770.99(B)).

The Michigan claims form only mentions IRS obligations. And Z... [ More ]

Comment #12

TheGameGrl — Thu, 20 Jun 2019 18:38:56 GMT

Yes. In certain states you are either married or a dissolution has been rendered. There is no acknowledgement for legal separation .

Totally understand that Michigan is of the former.

Doesn't mean.she HAD to go after his win. She sure as honey wouldn't be accountable for his debts during the separate residency.

I would have signed a waiver not to claim. But that's just me. I tend to not piggyback off another's luck.

Comment #11

LiveInGreenBay — Thu, 20 Jun 2019 18:24:53 GMT

15 million before taxes isn't too bad. Every hot blond in Michigan will be hunting that guy down. LOL

Comment #10

Artist77 — Thu, 20 Jun 2019 18:15:46 GMT

No. I think the lottery officials must have claiming forms which includes marital status. They likely have an IRS contact since they withhold a certain percentage so they must know info for any claimant. Your marital status is not private info so it can be shared between state entities. They probably ask about back child support, etc.

Comment #9

music* — Thu, 20 Jun 2019 15:48:42 GMT

wander73, It is, The love of money ...

I do not think that money is good or bad. It is paper, digits.

Law Enforcement follows the trail of the money in a crime scene. Follow the money

Corruption and corrupt officials are usually discovered by following the money.

Comment #8

dpoly1 — Thu, 20 Jun 2019 14:56:45 GMT

Comment #7

noise-gate — Thu, 20 Jun 2019 13:45:52 GMT

Rich had options. He could have stopped playing the lottery after his separation or he could have broomed Mary permanently.

Comment #6

wander73 — Thu, 20 Jun 2019 13:31:09 GMT

Sucks for him, a win for her. Money is the root of all evils. In the end, technically it doesn't matter. Then again not my business.

Comment #5

Raven62 — Thu, 20 Jun 2019 13:28:39 GMT

I guess he didn't have one:

A Legal Separation: Legally create a space between you and your spouse. You live separately. Your Finances are Separated. Child custody, child support, division of marital assets and debts, and spousal support (called alimony if you divorce) are all ordered by the court.

Comment #4

Bleudog101 — Thu, 20 Jun 2019 12:46:54 GMT

It is only fair IMHO. Just like the military where a Colorado Senator I believe had legislation passed that if you are married for greater than 10 years in the military and divorce, he or she automatically forfeits 50% of their retirement.

Now LP members, especially you legal types, had Michigan been an anonymous state, do you think he could have pulled a fast one and got away with the whole kit and caboodle

Comment #3

Artist77 — Thu, 20 Jun 2019 12:19:44 GMT

Lol. Simple case. They were still married, not divorced. It has nothing to do with greed. Of course, we all recall the bum who was supported by his ex wife for years. When he won, she asked for nothing and she was still paying spousal support.

Comment #2

TheGameGrl — Thu, 20 Jun 2019 11:47:29 GMT

So the former Mrs and uncle Sam get their share.

I suppose she sleeps with her greed better when it's covered in cash. Next she'll want spousal support.

He did agree to a third party to negotiate the divorce terms. So sounds like he has some sensibility.

Comment #1

music* — Thu, 20 Jun 2019 11:46:00 GMT

A marriage becomes a business transaction after a divorce.

Their divorce wasn't final until 2018. They separated in 2011.

I hope that they will become friends again who can celebrate their win.

Man who won millions from lottery during divorce case must share

Lottery Post — Thu, 20 Jun 2019 11:14:00 GMT

A suburban Detroit man who was in the middle of a divorce when he won more than $30 million must share the lottery windfall with his ex-wife.

The Michigan appeals court says a marriage isn't over until it's over. It means Mary Beth Zelasko can keep $15 million awarded by an arbitrator, although she and Rich Zelasko had been separated for two years when he bought the Mega Millions ticket in 2013. Their divorce wasn't final until 2018.

In a court filing, an attorney for Rich Zelasko said, Ri... [ More ]