Woman Wins $8.5 Million Lottery After Divorce... Court Rules Ex-Husband Has No Rights

Rhode Island Supreme Court Rules:
"Lottery Ticket Purchased After Divorce Finalization
Is Not Marital Property"

A woman in the United States who won a large lottery prize shortly after her divorce has ultimately prevailed in a prize-sharing lawsuit against her ex-husband.

According to recent reports from international media outlets such as Perthnow, the Rhode Island Supreme Court has ruled that Daniel Monteiro, the ex-husband of Ana Varela who won a scratch-off lottery prize of 5.8 million dollars (approximately 8.5 billion won), has no legal claim to the winnings.

Monteiro argued that due to an administrative paperwork error during the COVID-19 pandemic, the divorce was not legally finalized. He claimed that, since the couple was still legally married when Varela purchased the lottery ticket, the winnings should be considered marital property and demanded a portion of the prize.

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However, the Supreme Court did not accept this argument. The court found that the divorce was legally finalized on October 8, 2020, and Varela bought the lottery ticket more than 20 days after that date. In addition, the court stated that even if there had been an administrative error, it could not overturn a divorce that had already been validly finalized. As a result, the winnings were recognized as Varela’s personal property, not marital property.

The couple was married in 2007 but later became estranged. When Varela filed for divorce in February 2020, she informed the court that they had been living separately for more than three years. Due to disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the couple appeared in virtual court hearings without attorneys to carry out the divorce proceedings. The divorce agreement specified that all property was already divided, that there was no jointly owned real estate or debts, and that the two would share joint legal custody of their two children.

At that time, it appeared the divorce was being finalized without any major disputes. However, just weeks after the divorce was finalized, Varela won 5.8 million dollars from a scratch-off lottery ticket, dramatically changing the situation. On November 4, 2020, Varela collected her winnings, opting for a lump-sum payment of approximately 3.75 million dollars instead of an annuity.

Subsequently, Monteiro filed another lawsuit to invalidate the divorce ruling. However, both the family court and the Rhode Island Supreme Court rejected his claims. With this verdict, the years-long legal dispute has finally concluded. Nicholas Hemond, an attorney representing Varela, welcomed the decision, stating, "My client is very satisfied with the result," and emphasizing, "Anyone going through a divorce should seek the advice of a legal expert."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.