Controversial Marriage for Inheritance Purposes

A woman from the Upper West Side is reportedly facing serious allegations stemming from claims that she secretly wed her mentally ill landlord shortly before his death. This drastic move, according to the landlord’s brother, was apparently motivated by the desire to inherit his fortune.

Barbara Seidel, aged 63, had been renting a room from Albert Lerner, who was 78 and deemed “incapacitated,” for quite some time. His brother, Stefan, asserts that Seidel married Albert just days before he passed away on February 21.

Stefan shared claims in a Manhattan Supreme Court filing, stating, “She not only bragged about marrying a dead man, but even mocked him.” He also mentioned that Seidel’s will indicated that through marrying Albert, she’d somehow be able to “move on.”

Stefan detailed that Albert had been struggling with delusions since his teenage years. He elaborated on his brother’s mental struggles, highlighting peculiar beliefs, such as feeling constantly watched by surveillance devices monitored by gangs in lower Manhattan.

Once an orphan and former taxi driver, Albert relied mainly on his room rentals for income. He lived in a large, rent-controlled apartment, where a few of the bedrooms could be rented for exorbitant sums each month.

According to building officials, Albert had always been a quiet and kind individual who had lived there his entire life, typically alone. Seidel had been one of many caregivers who attended to him, but after his death, she took up residence permanently.

Witnesses noted that prior to marrying Albert, Seidel had come and gone daily, but after his death, she made the apartment her home. It’s troubling, really, that she chose to marry him merely a week before he died.

Stefan claims that their relationship was purely platonic and that there was no basis for a marriage. He alleged that Seidel coerced Albert, who was in a fragile state both mentally and physically, into signing the marriage license just days before his passing.

Court documentation also indicated that a lawyer involved in the process returned the $2,500 alimony, raising suspicions that the marriage was merely a setup for Seidel to access spousal funds.

If the court rules against the marriage, Stefan suggested he would inherit Albert’s estate, although no figures have been disclosed regarding its worth.

Seidel has not responded to requests for comments regarding the situation.