Do you need to share a lawsuit settlement with a spouse?

When you win personal injury lawsuit, the compensation is for you. It is specific to the person who was injured and is not marital property.

In some cases, if a spouse is jointly named in the lawsuit, such as for loss of consortim, they may be entitled to some money specific for their claim. This amount is a very small fraction of the case, and would be specified in a verdict but not in a settlement.

Some spouses who win a verdict or settlement keep this money separate, but others who comingle funds keep all their joint money together and then it would become part of the joint marital funds.