How to stay anonymous in states with no anonyminityPrev TopicNext Topic

• waryman

  

  Philadelphia, PA
  United States
  Member #162,804
  January 13, 2015
  7 Posts
  Offline
  Jan 19, 2021, 5:26 pm

  ▲▼

  Per the rules in PA,

   

  "Can I form a trust to remain anonymous when I claim my prize?"

  
  "No. If you choose to claim your Lottery prize in the name of a legal entity, such as a trust, the Pennsylvania Lottery will
  release the name of the entity and other relevant information, including the entity’s beneficiaries, partners or shareholders."

  palottery.state.pa.us/getattachment/winners/how-to-claim-your-prize/winners_handbook_feb2017.pdf.aspx

  I am thinking I change my name before claiming the ticket, then form a trust, and then my name back after I get the payout.  Sounds reasonable right?
• KY Floyd

  

  NY
  United States
  Member #23,834
  October 16, 2005
  4,772 Posts
  Offline
  Jan 19, 2021, 5:52 pm

  ▲▼

  Changing your name requires posting legal notices, so there's always a chance that somebody will find your original identity. That information on their website is outdated, anyway. Shortly after a NH court ruling said that the names of lottery winners weren't required to be released under the state's Right to Know laws a winner in PA was allowed to remain anonymous. IIRC the person used either trust or an LLC  and a lottery spokesperson said that based on the NH court ruling they felt that a PA court was likely to reach the same conclusion.

  FWIW, when the lotteries said they were required to release the names of winners I always figured they were referring to an official rule or a law that specifically required the names to be released. In NH it turns out that the lottery simply interpreted a general law about the public release of state information as applying to lottery winners.
• cottoneyedjoe

  

  United States
  Member #197,030
  March 28, 2019
  1,640 Posts
  Offline
  Jan 19, 2021, 7:01 pm

  ▲▼

  Travel to a state where winners can remain anonymoose and buy your tickets there. That's the best you can do if you want to keep things simple on the legal end. I don't think you should get into name changing shenanigans. WV and MD allow anonimity, and NY allows if if claimed via LLC, are they within driving distance for you?

  See: https://www.lotterypost.com/thread/326232
• HoLeeKau

  

  Idaho
  United States
  Member #94,279
  July 17, 2010
  2,453 Posts
  Offline
  Jan 19, 2021, 7:42 pm

  ▲▼

  I've thought about changing my name.  Like KYFloyd said, you have to publish it.  So if you have an unusual name, someone could easily see it. 

  I'd have to rent a room in a different state for a "residence" and a mail drop.  Make sure the homeowner or roommate will agree to forward any mail that comes to you, and keep their mouths shut.  Establish residency, change the name there to John Doe or the equivalent, and get a driver's license there, then come back to my state and get a driver's license here with the new name.  Re-establish residency, and collect the prize.  My state lottery doesn't require a photo which is good.  Then go to a different state and change it back, or change it to whatever I want it to be.

  After you collect the prize, you have all the time in the world to change it back, as long as you chose a very common nondescript name to collect the prize under.

  I've also thought about buying my tickets in a state that allows anonymity, but it's about a 6 hour drive one way.  It's winter here, so I'd risk running into inclement weather which would make it even longer.  That makes for a very long day/drive.  I'm not sure it's worth it right now, but when spring comes I might drive over and get my regular numbers instead of buying them here.  They allow you to buy 20 advance plays so I'd only have to go once every 10 weeks.
• LotteryLord

  Trinidad and Tobago
  Member #203,176
  December 25, 2019
  3 Posts
  Offline
  Jan 19, 2021, 7:42 pm

  ▲▼

  You can just leave the state (or country) and start over if you are worried about privacy, and if the money isn't significant enough that you could afford to do that then there's really no point in hiding your identity then.
• db101

  

  United States
  Member #202,920
  December 14, 2019
  900 Posts
  Offline
  Jan 19, 2021, 8:20 pm

  ▲▼
  In response to LotteryLord

  Quote: Originally posted by LotteryLord on Jan 19, 2021

  You can just leave the state (or country) and start over if you are worried about privacy, and if the money isn't significant enough that you could afford to do that then there's really no point in hiding your identity then.

  I agree. With enough money you can figure out how to deal with it.
• joshuacloak

  

  United States
  Member #32,536
  February 12, 2006
  711 Posts
  Offline
  Jan 20, 2021, 3:54 am

  ▲▼

  Will glady share what i researched long ago.

   

  While 99% of legal name changes are public records and done at local/state level.   So anyone can find your new name.

   

  Their is state supreme court legal name changes that are sealed. It's basially do it your self witness protection. From what i can tell pretty much ever state only gives such powers to their state supreme court judges of their state [for obvious reasons to prevent legal abuse, etc.]

  It's done by an handful of state lawyers that deal with your state's supreme court and is done to protect people from whatever threats they face,etc.

   

  Likewise do it self witness protection should be done on any land you buy. The mega rich own LLCs that own really high million dollar homes. etc. Everything can be done via an corporation/LLC, whatever in today's world.

   

  The reason you see tv shows full of lottery winners getting endless amounts of mail/phone calls, etc of people begging for money is same reason lots of winners go broke. No planning what so ever. They don't act and do same stuff the mega rich do. They just go out and spend the money. Buy their homes in their NAMES, which people aka scammers find them via public record searches. ETC.

   

  All this stuff is WAY above my pay grade if you want to really hide.  You have to search these people out that does this for rich and hire them type of lawyers to hide you. 

   

  Same goes for people you already know. If you do sealed name change. DON'T tell anyone your new legal name from your old life. If their name john to them. STAY AS JOHN to them. Okay?   Disappear off the face of the earth. Not even your phone you use to talk to them should have your new legal name tied to it. Not even car you drive to go see them. That also owned by a corporation or whatever.

   

  Just freaking legal wise disappear. Don't do media when you win the jackpot. Shut down all social media.  Who cares if the news media or scam types that hunt lottery winners know who the "old you" is.   Be in new place, new state even IF NEED BE.  Not have anything linked to your old legal names in any way.   Just freaking disappear.

   

  If a person wants to be left alone and they have tens of millions of dollars. It can be done. Just matter of getting the right help and being smarter then the masses.

  One tequila, two tequila, three tequila, floor.
• HoLeeKau

  

  Idaho
  United States
  Member #94,279
  July 17, 2010
  2,453 Posts
  Offline
  Jan 20, 2021, 1:22 pm

  ▲▼
  In response to joshuacloak

  Quote: Originally posted by joshuacloak on Jan 20, 2021

  Will glady share what i researched long ago.

   

  While 99% of legal name changes are public records and done at local/state level.   So anyone can find your new name.

   

  Their is state supreme court legal name changes that are sealed. It's basially do it your self witness protection. From what i can tell pretty much ever state only gives such powers to their state supreme court judges of their state [for obvious reasons to prevent legal abuse, etc.]

  It's done by an handful of state lawyers that deal with your state's supreme court and is done to protect people from whatever threats they face,etc.

   

  Likewise do it self witness protection should be done on any land you buy. The mega rich own LLCs that own really high million dollar homes. etc. Everything can be done via an corporation/LLC, whatever in today's world.

   

  The reason you see tv shows full of lottery winners getting endless amounts of mail/phone calls, etc of people begging for money is same reason lots of winners go broke. No planning what so ever. They don't act and do same stuff the mega rich do. They just go out and spend the money. Buy their homes in their NAMES, which people aka scammers find them via public record searches. ETC.

   

  All this stuff is WAY above my pay grade if you want to really hide.  You have to search these people out that does this for rich and hire them type of lawyers to hide you. 

   

  Same goes for people you already know. If you do sealed name change. DON'T tell anyone your new legal name from your old life. If their name john to them. STAY AS JOHN to them. Okay?   Disappear off the face of the earth. Not even your phone you use to talk to them should have your new legal name tied to it. Not even car you drive to go see them. That also owned by a corporation or whatever.

   

  Just freaking legal wise disappear. Don't do media when you win the jackpot. Shut down all social media.  Who cares if the news media or scam types that hunt lottery winners know who the "old you" is.   Be in new place, new state even IF NEED BE.  Not have anything linked to your old legal names in any way.   Just freaking disappear.

   

  If a person wants to be left alone and they have tens of millions of dollars. It can be done. Just matter of getting the right help and being smarter then the masses.

  That's a great plan for someone with no ties, but if you have someone you love in the area, either they go with you or going to a different state to hide won't work.  I can think of legitimate reasons they wouldn't want to leave - like they've already built a professional practice in your area and they're not ready to lounge on your riches, or they have a parent or someone they want to stay in contact with.

  Then you'd need to find another way to stay anonymous.
• From802

  

  Randolph, Vermont
  United States
  Member #212,682
  January 14, 2021
  9 Posts
  Offline
  Jan 20, 2021, 5:36 pm

  ▲▼

  In Vermont you cannot stay anonymous, but you can set up a trust. I would assume you could gather your accountant, estate planner, and lawyers and then name yourself as the executor of the trust or someone you fully trust.
• cottoneyedjoe

  

  United States
  Member #197,030
  March 28, 2019
  1,640 Posts
  Offline
  Jan 21, 2021, 12:59 am

  ▲▼
  In response to waryman

  Quote: Originally posted by waryman on Jan 19, 2021

  Per the rules in PA,

   

  "Can I form a trust to remain anonymous when I claim my prize?"

  
  "No. If you choose to claim your Lottery prize in the name of a legal entity, such as a trust, the Pennsylvania Lottery will
  release the name of the entity and other relevant information, including the entity’s beneficiaries, partners or shareholders."

  palottery.state.pa.us/getattachment/winners/how-to-claim-your-prize/winners_handbook_feb2017.pdf.aspx

  I am thinking I change my name before claiming the ticket, then form a trust, and then my name back after I get the payout.  Sounds reasonable right?

  Oh looky, someone just won the $730 PB jackpot in Maryland, an anonymous state. Could have been a native, could have been an out-of-stater. We'll never know, but one thing's for sure, they don't have to change their name.
• Karen Nathan

  

  Miami Florida
  United States
  Member #191,036
  July 13, 2018
  545 Posts
  Offline
  Jan 26, 2021, 3:30 am

  ▲▼
  In response to waryman

  Quote: Originally posted by waryman on Jan 19, 2021

  Per the rules in PA,

   

  "Can I form a trust to remain anonymous when I claim my prize?"

  
  "No. If you choose to claim your Lottery prize in the name of a legal entity, such as a trust, the Pennsylvania Lottery will
  release the name of the entity and other relevant information, including the entity’s beneficiaries, partners or shareholders."

  palottery.state.pa.us/getattachment/winners/how-to-claim-your-prize/winners_handbook_feb2017.pdf.aspx

  I am thinking I change my name before claiming the ticket, then form a trust, and then my name back after I get the payout.  Sounds reasonable right?

  Hmm. I remember a Married Couple went the Trust Route, and STILL had to come forward publicly, which REALLY defeats The Trust Fund Loophole. In their Press Conference, they were smiling like ZOMBIES. A YouTube Poster replied something like,"For Multi Millionaires, they sure look lethargic."

  The reply was something like,"Well, they tried to avoid going public by using a Trust Fund and STILL had to come forward in a Public Conference. You can see how PISSED they actually are, but are smiling to cover it up."
• HoLeeKau

  

  Idaho
  United States
  Member #94,279
  July 17, 2010
  2,453 Posts
  Offline
  Feb 8, 2021, 4:00 pm

  ▲▼

  It's a pretty short drive from Philly to either Maryland or Delaware, isn't it?  I'd take the trip to buy in an anonymous state and buy as many advance draws as they allow.  Most states allow 10 draws, so you'd only have to go every 5 weeks.