Nick Reiner, accused of murdering his parents Rob Reiner and Michele Singer Reiner, has been refused access to a $1.5 million US trust fund he was attempting to utilize for his legal defense. In a filing from June, Reiner sought allegedly unpaid funds from a trust established for him by his parents in 1993.
Court documents obtained by CBC News revealed that trustees denied Reiner’s request for the funds, invoking a section of California law known as the “slayer statute,” which prohibits individuals who have “feloniously and intentionally” killed someone from inheriting money, property, or trusts from the deceased. Rob Reiner, a renowned director and actor, and his wife, Michele, a photographer and producer, were fatally stabbed in their California residence on December 14, 2025, following which their son, Nick Reiner, was apprehended. The 32-year-old was formally charged with murder on July 20 and has pleaded not guilty.
An indictment from a Los Angeles County grand jury, unveiled last Wednesday, alleges that Reiner ambushed his parents before the attack, potentially exposing him to the death penalty based on the circumstances of the case. District Attorney Nathan Hochman stated that a decision on seeking the death penalty has not been made yet.
Reiner is scheduled to appear in court for a pretrial hearing in September, currently represented by public defender Kimberly Greene. The filing in June outlined that besides the family trust fund, individual trust funds were established for the Reiner children, with Nick entitled to half of his fund at 30 years old and the remainder at 35.
The assets in the fund were valued at a minimum of $1.5 million US, as per the petition. Notably, high-profile attorney Alan Jackson initially represented Reiner but departed within a month, with the reason undisclosed. The June filing disclosed that Reiner’s siblings, Jake and Romy Reiner, initially agreed to cover his legal expenses before reversing their decision. Jackson expressed willingness to rejoin the case if funds were available to retain his services.
The trust fund oversight, Paul R. Kanin, and incoming trustee Jodi Pais Montgomery determined that due to the ongoing criminal case against Reiner, the funds could not be disbursed at present. The filing emphasized that until the outcome of the criminal proceedings is known, access to the trust fund remains restricted. Jake Reiner, the eldest son, shared his experience of the tragedy in April, describing it as a “living nightmare.” Motives behind the killings are still undisclosed, and authorities have refrained from speculating on them.
Rob Reiner, recognized for his extensive contributions to the film industry, met his wife Michele during the filming of “When Harry Met Sally” and altered the movie’s ending inspired by their relationship. The couple, married for 36 years, tragically lost their lives in the 2025 incident.