Generally speaking, anything earned in marriage is community property and the spouse is entitled to half. Death or remarriage will not change this. You said the hu*****and got a government job. However, if this is a federal government job, then the pension may not be divided depending on the specific law governing the pension. For example, the federal law governing rail road retirement benefit pre-empts CA state law. Same thing for the social security benefit. However, a state judge may award other properties to compensate the other spouse.