Kaufman v. Kaufman

The facts underlying this case are fully presented in our first opinion. See Kaufman, 7 Va. App. 488, 375 S.E.2d 374. Therefore, we summarize the facts only as necessary to explain our decision here. The parties were married in 1973 and have one child born of the marriage in 1981. Dr. Kaufman left the marital home in 1982 and Mrs. Kaufman filed her bill of complaint seeking a divorce in 1983. Dr. Kaufman is a medical doctor specializing in pulmonary medicine. He was employed as a resident when the parties married. Mrs. Kaufman worked as an assistant manager of a clothing store during the first five years of the parties marriage, but did not work during the remainder of the marriage. When this suit began, Dr. Kaufmans annual salary was approximately $120,000. The parties home and furnishings were jointly owned and had a net value of approximately $35,325. The parties also owned $29,254 of non-pension marital property along with Mrs. Kaufmans jewelry, valued at $4,010. In pension marital property, Dr. Kaufman owned an Individual Retirement Account worth $2,000, a Profit Sharing Plan worth $20,060, and a Money Purchase Plan worth $7,500. Finally, Dr. Kaufman owned by purchase contract a one-third interest in Pulmonary Consultants of Tidewater, Inc. (Pulmonary), which the court initially found had a negative value of $8,051.