Q: What happens if a person who files for bankruptcy wins the lottery? Can he keep the money?
A: Depends on when he wins the lottery. Before filing, the money is part of the estate. After filing, you may have to pay off your creditors and keep the balance. After discharge, the money is all yours.
A:
The lottery winnings should be yours, as long as they are won after your discharge. If you've just filed a Chapter 13, the discharge could be 5 years away. If the lottery win happened during the course of the Ch. 13, then the winnings would likely require that your chapter 13 plan be modified to a full pay.
Of course, any assets (or rights / interests in assets) that you have before you file will almost certainly come into the bankruptcy and be available to pay your creditors (if not exempt).
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