# How does one actually claim a large lottery win?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-actually-claim-a-large-lottery-win/742827>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [January 11, 2016, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-actually-claim-a-large-lottery-win/742827 "2016-01-11T17:18:27Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![teela\_brown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d9b06d/32.png) [@teela\_brown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/teela_brown)\
**Post date:** [January 11, 2016, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-actually-claim-a-large-lottery-win/742827/21 "2016-01-11T22:34:20Z")

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In the case of an office pool, where several people are co-winners, how is the signing of the back of the tickets handled?

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**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\
**Post date:** [January 11, 2016, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-actually-claim-a-large-lottery-win/742827/22 "2016-01-11T22:37:42Z")

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> [@Dewey\_Finn](#):
>
> That’s fine if you win a small amount. But if you actually won this jackpot, it would be wise to do some advance planning (with a lawyer, an accountant and a security pro) before claiming it.

There’s no reason that can’t be done _after_ the ticket is redeemed, and really, the longer the ticket is in your possession, the greater the possibility of it getting lost-damaged/stolen. The jackpot’s a lot safer in a bank account than it is in the form of a $1.4 billion dollar bill tucked into my wallet.

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