You Won the Jackpot: The First 5 Steps You Must Take Immediately

The numbers match. Your heart is pounding. What you do in the next few hours matters more than almost anything you'll do afterwards. Here are the first five steps to take, in order, whether you play alone or with a group, followed by what to focus on in the weeks and months after.

The Five Steps at a Glance

Step	What to do	Why
1. Verify and sign	Check official results; sign if required	Confirms the win and protects ownership
2. Secure	Photograph, copy, lock up the original	The original ticket is what gets paid
3. Keep quiet	Tell only those who need to know	Fewer scams, requests and pressures
4. Build your team	Attorney, CPA, financial adviser	Big decisions need expert advice
5. Plan the claim	Lump sum vs. annuity, forms, deadline	Avoids costly, irreversible mistakes

Step 1: Verify and Sign the Ticket

Check the numbers against the official results, using the lottery's own website or app, not just a news story. Then sign the back of the ticket if your lottery requires it. A signed ticket is harder for anyone else to claim. If you play in a group, ask your lottery or attorney whose name, or what entity, should go on it.

Step 2: Secure the Ticket

This piece of paper is now worth millions. Photograph the front and back, make copies, and put the original somewhere safe, such as a safe deposit box or a home safe. Don't leave it in a wallet, a car or a drawer. A photo helps prove what you hold, but lotteries generally pay only on the original ticket.

Remember the claim deadline: it is usually 180 days to a year, depending on the game and state. A lost ticket can be a lost prize, as our look at the largest unclaimed jackpots shows.

Step 3: Keep Quiet

Resist the urge to post or tell the world. The fewer people who know, the fewer requests, scams and pressures you face. Tell only the people who need to know, such as a spouse or your group, and ask them to keep it private until you've had professional advice.

Check whether your state requires winners to be publicly identified. Many do, while some allow winners to stay anonymous or to claim through a trust or other entity. Your attorney can tell you what's possible where you are.

Step 4: Assemble Your Team

Before you claim, speak to:

• An attorney experienced in lottery claims, who can advise on claiming, trusts or entities and privacy.
• A CPA or tax adviser who can explain withholding, taxes and the annuity vs. cash question. See how much you actually take home.
• A financial adviser, ideally a fee-only fiduciary, but only one you choose yourself.

Be wary of anyone who contacts you uninvited. Ask every adviser how they're paid, check their credentials, and never let a single person control all of your money.

Step 5: Decide How You'll Claim

Choose between the lump sum and the annuity with your advisers, and understand the claim process, forms and deadline for your lottery. Call the lottery's claims office to ask what documents you'll need.

If you won as a group, confirm the split from your written agreement and prepare the tax paperwork, including IRS Form 5754 so each member is taxed on their own share. Our guide to Form 5754 explains how. In many states, the group must choose the same payout option for everyone.

The First 30 Days

• Park the money somewhere safe and boring while you plan, such as insured bank accounts or Treasury securities, as your advisers recommend.
• Set aside the tax gap. Federal withholding is 24%, but large prizes are mostly taxed at 37%. Keep the difference, plus any state tax, untouched.
• Tighten your privacy: social media settings, a new phone number, a P.O. box if needed.
• Give yourself a small "fun budget" so you can celebrate without making big decisions.

The First Year

• Make a written financial plan before any major purchases, career changes or gifts.
• Update your estate plan: a will, beneficiaries and possibly a trust.
• Decide on a giving policy. Many winners find it easier to say "my adviser handles all requests" than to decide case by case. If giving matters to you, a structured approach like a family foundation can help; see the Smith family's story.
• Review your insurance, including liability coverage.

What Not to Do

• Don't quit your job or make big purchases yet.
• Don't sign anything you haven't had read by your attorney.
• Don't hand the ticket to anyone "to hold" without paperwork.
• Don't skip the written agreement if you're in a group.
• Don't promise money to friends or relatives in the excitement.
• Don't pay anyone a "fee" to release your prize. Real lotteries never ask for one.

"You can't prepare for the luck, but you can prepare for what comes after."

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I sign the ticket right away?

If your lottery requires a signature, yes, because an unsigned ticket is like cash. But if you're in a group or plan to claim through a trust, call your lottery or attorney first if you can, since the name on the ticket can matter.

How soon should I claim?

Not in a rush, but well before the deadline. Taking a few days or weeks to assemble your team is normal. Note the deadline on day one.

Do these steps apply to smaller prizes too?

The first two always do: check and secure the ticket. For prizes of a few thousand dollars, you won't need a full team, but you will need to report the income, and prizes of $2,000 or more (in 2026) come with a W-2G tax form.

For a longer plan covering the first 48 hours as a group, see what to do first if your lottery group wins. Congratulations, and go slowly.