What it means
The right to a lottery prize — other than one payable in installments over time — is not assignable. Two exceptions: a prize may be paid to the estate of a deceased prize winner, or to a person designated by an appropriate court order. An installment prize may be assigned, but only under a court order that satisfies s. 24.1153.
Before paying any prize of $600 or more, the department offsets past-due child support first, then debts owed to state agencies, pro rata. Claims expire: 180 days after the drawing for draw games, 60 days for instant games. 80 percent of unclaimed prize money goes to the Educational Enhancement Trust Fund, 20 percent to future prizes.
- A prize not payable in installments is not assignable — no sale, no pledge, no transfer.
- A prize may be paid to the estate of a deceased prize winner or to a person designated by an appropriate court order.
- Installment prizes are assignable only under a court order meeting s. 24.1153.
- Prizes of $600 or more are offset against past-due child support first, then state-agency debts.
- Claim windows: 180 days from the drawing; 60 days for instant games.
- Unclaimed prizes: 80% to the Educational Enhancement Trust Fund, 20% to future prize pools.
How it plays out
When a winner collecting annual installments dies, the remaining payments become an estate asset under this section — the Lottery pays the estate once a personal representative presents letters of administration and a court order. We see two recurring problems: families who assume the payments can simply be redirected (they cannot — assignment runs through s. 24.1153), and estates surprised by the child-support and state-debt offsets that come out before any check is written.
Where this shows up
Pages on this site where § 24.115 does real work:
Questions people ask
