POWERBALL TICKETS SOLD IN MISSOURI AND TEXAS WIN $1.79B JACKPOTAndrew Mims, founder of Oak Grove Estate Planning, said that lottery winners will need an attorney who specializes specifically in trusts and estate planning. Establishing a trust, Mims said, is the best way to claim lottery winnings, as it helps safeguard both privacy and assets. Claiming through a trust can keep a winner’s identity private, even in states that typically require winners to be publicly identified. Using a trust and investing wisely or placing funds in an annuity can also help prevent winners from overspending very quickly. (Brandon Bell / Getty Images)White said the reason many lottery winners have struggled is that they didn't have a plan.