Nick Reiner, the individual accused of the murder of his parents, Rob Reiner and Michele Singer Reiner, has been declined access to a $1.5 million US trust fund he sought for his legal defense. As per a June filing, Reiner had been pursuing allegedly unpaid funds from a trust established by his parents for him back in 1993.
Court documents obtained by CBC News reveal that trustees turned down Reiner’s request for funds, invoking a section of California law called the “slayer statute,” which bars individuals from inheriting money, property, or trusts from someone they have criminally killed.
Rob Reiner, a renowned director and actor, and Michele, a photographer and producer, were fatally stabbed in their California residence on December 14, 2025. Shortly after, their son Nick Reiner was taken into custody. The 32-year-old was formally charged with murder on July 20 and has entered a plea of not guilty.
An indictment by a Los Angeles County grand jury, made public last Wednesday, alleges that Reiner ambushed his parents before the attack, potentially subjecting him to the death penalty. District Attorney Nathan Hochman has yet to confirm if this penalty will be pursued.
Reiner is set for a pretrial hearing in September, represented by public defender Kimberly Greene. The filing from June indicated that, aside from the family trust fund, smaller individual trust funds were set up for the Reiner children, with Nick entitled to receive half at 30 and the remainder at 35.
In his petition, Reiner claimed he did not receive the funds owed to him at 30, accusing the trustees of withholding his rightful access to the money. The petition highlighted that the assets in the fund amounted to at least $1.5 million US.
Private attorney Alan Jackson had initially been retained to represent Reiner but departed within a month, with the reason undisclosed. The filing further disclosed that Reiner’s siblings, Jake and Romy Reiner, initially agreed to cover his legal fees but later reversed their decision.
The trust fund’s overseer, Paul R. Kanin, and incoming trustee Jodi Pais Montgomery, concluded that the fund’s distribution hinged on the resolution of Reiner’s criminal case. They emphasized that until the outcome is certain, the funds cannot be accessed under Probate Code Section 250 and related “slayer statute” principles.
Jake Reiner, Rob and Michele’s eldest son, shared his anguish in April over the tragic loss of his parents and the focus on his brother in the case. The public still lacks many details about the incident, including any speculated motives.
Rob Reiner, a Hollywood stalwart known for his directorial work on iconic films like “The Princess Bride” and “A Few Good Men,” was a prominent figure in the industry. His marriage to Michele, whom he met during the filming of “When Harry Met Sally,” lasted for 36 years.