Preparation for picking up the prize.

Reply #33

RJOh — Wed, 07 Dec 2005 19:50:14 GMT

According to the tax laws I've read you are suppose to pay taxes on all your lottery winnings. Signing all your tickets even the ones under $600 leaves a paper trail back to you. Many people neglect to record these winnings on their tax forms because they are not included on the W-2G the state send you for your winnings of $600 or more. If your are including these small winnings on your tax forms then that shouldn't be a problem.

Reply #32

justxploring — Mon, 14 Nov 2005 09:08:36 GMT

Thanks for the warning, but I'm not sure I agree. I am familiar with creating trusts to avoid probate and litigation to reduce one's estate before death. However, what you wrote makes sense even though I'm not sure signing my name would prevent me from forming a revocable trust and collecting the money as the trustee. It is food for thought, however. Hmm. I'm pretty sure I'd have to apply for another tax ID for the trust, but I also think I could still use my name and collect the winnings... [ More ]

Reply #31

Lawrence Connor — Sun, 13 Nov 2005 21:53:41 GMT

I think we can all guess what we would do,but we can't know for sure until it happens,and that whatever we decide to do thenwill be based on the reality and that pointin time how we feel we should take actionand for most of us the guesses before mostlywon't mean or matter much then if it's for real.

Reply #30

BaristaExpress — Sun, 13 Nov 2005 20:21:46 GMT

Maybe I'm too optimistic, but I sign my tickets as soon as I purchase them. That way if they are lost or stolen, nobody can claim them since positive ID is required of course. But Justxploring, if you do that, you can't claim it as a Trust or an LLC! Claimed as a Trust or an LLC provides you a great deal of protection from law suits and other things! Remember this world today always has someone or a group of someones out there looking to make an easy buck at someone else's expense! Having the mo... [ More ]

Reply #29

PrisonerSix — Sun, 13 Nov 2005 15:09:56 GMT

That's a good strategy. Better yet, buy a prepaid Tracfone for cash at someplace like WalMart or CirlceK. That's a prepaid cellphone with no contract, no name, address attached to it. You just buy cards with minutes on them as you need them. The phone number is based on ZIP code so in theory, you could have a phone number in another state if you want, which would make it harder to find you.I also plan to move if I win a big jackpot, to a new state where nobody knows me. I also plan to operate on... [ More ]

Reply #28

MoneyisFreedom — Sun, 13 Nov 2005 10:05:54 GMT

Seriously, I'd buy my boss a nice gift in an effort to alleviate any guilt from resigning immediately.

Reply #27

sirbrad — Sun, 13 Nov 2005 06:29:00 GMT

True but I believe I read that the truth came out...luckily.

Reply #26

sirbrad — Sun, 13 Nov 2005 06:28:08 GMT

If you won the jackpot, would you announce it here? Or go into total seclusion? I would find it very difficult not to announce it here on a lottery forum. Besides, we need to prove the integrity of the game even more so...Would be nice to actually see someone win it who actually worked for it with a system, as opposed to the last minute quick picker who does not even know how to play, and has to go have their tickets checked at a retailer.

Reply #25

justxploring — Sun, 13 Nov 2005 05:50:44 GMT

I would sign it, then scan it in so I could post it after I claimed it, then would go to the store I got it from and validate it. Maybe I'm too optimistic, but I sign my tickets as soon as I purchase them. That way if they are lost or stolen, nobody can claim them since positive ID is required of course. Remember, the bearer of the ticket is the owner unless it's signed. I also would never validate a winning ticket at a local retailer. Read the story about the $1.4M dollar winner in AZ.... [ More ]

Reply #24

justxploring — Sun, 13 Nov 2005 05:43:12 GMT

No one would know I won, especially friends and even most of the family! No listed phone # for me! Only a cell phone and that would be a brand new cell just activated! My old cell would go into the trash all smashed up (minus the battery of course). I don't think you really have to go to that extreme. Just get your cell phone number changed

Reply #23

BaristaExpress — Sun, 13 Nov 2005 04:57:55 GMT

Reply #22

sirbrad — Sat, 12 Nov 2005 23:57:12 GMT

Run that by me again about my system being a farce? LOL

Reply #21

LckyLary — Sat, 12 Nov 2005 16:59:57 GMT

I would sign it, then scan it in so I could post it after I claimed it, then would go to the store I got it from and validate it. It would then go itnto a gypsum lockbox and at my side at all times until I bring it to Trenton. I would also make sure I got a haircut and my favorite shirt on so I'd look presentable on TV. A few people that are close to me would know right away but many others would only find out when they saw it on TV. Then they'd call and ask for money or whatever and I'd say Wh... [ More ]

Reply #20

TheGameGrl — Sat, 12 Nov 2005 13:01:58 GMT

As my mamma ust'ah say- consider the source .

Reply #19

Tx_Mega_Player — Sat, 12 Nov 2005 08:55:11 GMT

Maybe calling them lowlifes is a bit extreme at this point. I think that maybe they are just getting bad advise. These demands sound like the work of a publicist . Had NBC agreed to these terms, I can see the publicist calling up Steve West to say Hey Stevo, guess what I just got you and your family!!! The publicist is probably trying to get a long-term job out of this - by getting all these perks. The list of demands just sound to professional to me - as if they came from someone that thi... [ More ]

Reply #18

RJOh — Sat, 12 Nov 2005 04:27:19 GMT

I'm surprised those TV stations would think anyone who had just won a big lottery jackpot had nothing better to do than fly cross country to NY to be on their shows for ten minutes. They weren't trying to sell a book or movie, so they had nothing to gain. I doubt if any of those TV executives would have wasted any of their time flying out to Oregon for a ten minutes interview unless it was for a job paying eigth figures.

Reply #17

bellyache — Sat, 12 Nov 2005 03:58:30 GMT

A source from within Today said, When [executive producer] Jim Bellheard about the demands he said, '[Bleep] them!' Bell declined comment.That's actually funny. =D I probably would have said the same thing.

Reply #16

sirbrad — Sat, 12 Nov 2005 03:28:36 GMT

Little bit spoiled already aren't we? The media is nothing but trouble anyway though, so maybe they were trying to make things difficult for them as a strategy, just to see how bad the media wanted the story. Perhaps they thought the media would give up, and they would not have to appear then. Being the media did not meet their demands. But I think they better start appreciating what they have, not what else they can get. That is the problem with all these idiots who win that don't actuall... [ More ]

Reply #15

BaristaExpress — Sat, 12 Nov 2005 03:16:47 GMT

What a Bunch of Lowlife LOSERS! Demands, Ha, Double Ha!A source from within Today said, When [executive producer] Jim Bellheard about the demands he said, '[Bleep] them! What A Smart Man Jim Bell is! I'd would have told them the same! Hell the SOB's have more money than they know what to do with and they have the nerve to make those type of demands! That kind of nerve makes me wonder if they think the world now owes them something! For their outrageousness, I would hope somewhere down the roa... [ More ]

Reply #14

hypersoniq — Sat, 12 Nov 2005 03:12:07 GMT

hmm. I wonder if they thought an outrageous list of demands would deter the publicity

Reply #13

Editgap — Fri, 11 Nov 2005 20:39:11 GMT

I love their demades. It is the best thing then appearing in some tv show. If anyone wants to put me on display I will make them pay. Notihing is free.

Reply #12

Galethog — Fri, 11 Nov 2005 20:15:08 GMT

I would call Jerry Springer and tell him to get ready to have me on his show. If you knew my family, you would know why.

Reply #11

bellyache — Fri, 11 Nov 2005 19:08:24 GMT

They must have thought that they were rock stars. Hopefully, they got the 15 minutes that they wanted.

Reply #10

Just6ntlc — Fri, 11 Nov 2005 17:57:24 GMT

If I had won the jackpot in any game MM or CA SLP, I would let my married sister [if my ticket won in Tracy] or my unmarried sister [if my ticket won in Concord] help me with the finances. Then I would also talk to the retailer and financial people to help us.

Reply #9

lchoro — Fri, 11 Nov 2005 17:52:55 GMT

I probably wouldn't be looking to get tickets to Saturday Night Live. What a horrible and dull show that's become.

Reply #8

Prob988 — Fri, 11 Nov 2005 17:36:54 GMT

Apparently it's kind of hard to win a huge prize and not be an idiot.I will tell you the last thing I will be doing is making arrangements to appear on TV shows. And I would never dream of highering a publicist. Rather I would hire an obscurisist.

Reply #7

RJOh — Fri, 11 Nov 2005 17:03:41 GMT

You can always hire someone to handle all your arrangements as the Wests did according this article: From the New York Post:Steven West and his wife, Carolyn, along with his in-laws Frances and Bob Chaney, immediately hired a publicist who sent the morning shows' bookers a list of demands that rivals any rock star's contract. Doug Orr, the national director of marketing for the Multi-State Lottery Association, e-mailed Today execs: I spoke with Curtis Bennett [the Wests' publicist] this... [ More ]

Reply #6

fja — Fri, 11 Nov 2005 16:35:52 GMT

When i win i'll let you know if I told the truth here.

Reply #5

four4me — Fri, 11 Nov 2005 16:10:44 GMT

When I win the big jackpot I'll be renting the top floor in the Hyatt regency in charm city until the check clears the bank. We'll be having a continuos party the whole time. Only closest family and dear friends will be there. My attorney and financial planner will discuss options for setting up trust funds and stock options. I will also be talking with Realtors about some property in some exclusive area where we will be relocating to, preferably a gated community or private estate. I've always... [ More ]

Reply #4

BaristaExpress — Fri, 11 Nov 2005 13:47:05 GMT

Reply #3

TigerAngel — Fri, 11 Nov 2005 06:32:17 GMT

I will laugh a lot, dance and start packing

Reply #2

bellyache — Fri, 11 Nov 2005 06:22:41 GMT

For me, It depends on how much I actually win. Different games have different jackpot sizes, so I would have to know which game I was actually playing to give a good answer.

Reply #1

fxsterling — Fri, 11 Nov 2005 05:25:01 GMT

oprah and only oprah

Preparation for picking up the prize.

Prob988 — Fri, 11 Nov 2005 04:48:45 GMT

Of course you are going to win the lottery, and inevitably you will face that interlude between the time you discover that you've won, and the time you go to pick up the ticket.How will you spend that interlude and what do you do