In California, my father has married for a second time and the property he owned with his first wife was in question during divorce hearings. Can the second wife claim ownership of the property by being his new wife or does the property still belong to he and his first wife. In other words would this be called having assets before the second marriage?

Did he die, so new wife has to make a claim ?

But until the end of the divorce and final property settlement, ownership is just that, up in the air.
But you said new wife, how can there be a divorce if the settlement of who owns what is not final ?

What exactly is the issue, a new wife can claim anything she wants, does not make it true,

Now if her and new husband is living in the house, while it may not be ownership, it is still her home

... the property he owned with his first wife was in question during divorce hearings. ...

What was the question, and the answer?