Many personal injury awards in Ohio are classified as separate property. There are, however, some unique factors to consider about these awards, which include: If the injury occurred during a marriage, there is a risk that the award might end up addressing some types of community property If you were the only plaintiff in the accident, the award will likely be classified as separate property. If your spouse was also a plaintiff, the award might end up classified as marital property. If the claim is for loss of consortium or companionship, your former spouse might have a right to receive this amount. If you deposited your award in a joint marital bank account and now are unable to distinguish these funds from other marital assets, there is a risk the award might end up classified as community property. In the case of Modon v. Modon, 115 Ohio App. 3d 810, 686 N.E. 2d 355 (1996), an Ohio court classified the full amount of a personal injury award as marital property.