Hello. My parents have been married for over 2 decades. We live in California. My mom is a sociopath (meets the clinical definition to a "T") and my dad has had enough of her controlling his life and money, as well as getting him into debt. My dad and I are trying to get his things in order for a divorce. About 10 years ago, my dad's parents passed and mineral rights to land were given to him, which now means a $1500 check every month due to the rising oil prices (the amount/month gets steadily higher). Anyways, she more or less forced my dad to withdraw all his retirement from his former employer to help purchase their house, which is now about to be foreclosed on, due to her controlling mindset and careless attitude. He is 57 and in danger of losing his job to to an injury. This oil check means everything in terms of my dad being able to live by himself. Even my mom's family knows she's crazy, as well as certainly my dad, sister, and I. His wife has brought nothing to the table in terms of retirement, or anything else, for that matter. She can be physically violent and we are always worried that she'll snap and kill/hurt us. She sucks people dry. She is a rotten person and does not deserve my dad's money, when he's worked hard all of his life and she has not. For over 10 years of marriage, she didn't even have a job. The oil check and my dad's retirement need to stay his. It means the world. He may not be able to work again, depending on some circumstances.

What are the options? If she's found to be physically and mentally abusive, and/or mentally unstable, does she still have rights to half of my dad's property? Could my dad simply transfer the oil check into my sister or I's names?

I'm rambling, I know, but my dad and I are always worried about when she'll find out that my dad's going to divorce her, because we know she'll go on a rampage to hurt and destroy all that she can.

Thanks.