Nick Reiner, the individual accused of murdering his parents, Rob Reiner and Michele Singer Reiner, last year, has been refused access to the $1.5 million US trust fund he had requested to finance his legal defense. In a recent filing from June, Reiner had been pursuing allegedly unpaid funds from a trust established by his parents for him in 1993.
Court documents obtained by CBC News show that the trustees turned down Reiner’s appeal for the funds, invoking a provision of California law known as the “slayer statute,” which bars individuals from inheriting money, property, or trusts from someone they have intentionally and feloniously killed.
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. Shortly after, their son Nick Reiner was arrested. The 32-year-old was formally charged with murder on July 20 and has entered a plea of not guilty.
The indictment by a Los Angeles County grand jury, disclosed last Wednesday, alleges that Reiner lay in wait before assaulting his parents, a detail that could potentially lead to the death penalty. District Attorney Nathan Hochman has yet to decide on pursuing this penalty.
Reiner is set to appear in court for a pretrial hearing in September and is currently being represented by public defender Kimberly Greene, who CBC News has contacted for a statement.
According to the June filing, besides the family trust fund, separate individual trust funds were set up for the Reiner children under their names. Reiner was supposed to receive half of his trust fund when he turned 30 and the remainder at 35. However, he claimed in the petition that he did not receive the funds due to him at 30, asserting that the trustees were withholding money rightfully belonging to him.
The assets in the fund were valued at least $1.5 million US, as per the petition. High-profile attorney Alan Jackson was initially retained to represent Reiner but withdrew from the case within a month without providing a reason. It was revealed in the June filing that Reiner’s siblings, Jake and Romy Reiner, initially agreed to cover their brother’s legal expenses before changing their decision.
The two siblings have refrained from making any public statements regarding the legal proceedings.
The attorney previously in charge of the trust fund, Paul R. Kanin, and incoming trustee Jodi Pais Montgomery both determined in court documents that the uncertain outcome of Reiner’s criminal case meant that the funds could not be distributed at this time. The filing mentioned that the trust fund cannot be accessed until it is clear how Probate Code Section 250 and any related “slayer statute” principles may impact Reiner’s entitlement to the funds.
Eight months after the tragic events, many details remain undisclosed to the public, including possible motives. Jake Reiner, the eldest son of Rob and Michele Reiner, shared in April about enduring the aftermath of his parents’ murder and the focus on allegations involving his brother, calling it a “living nightmare.”
Rob Reiner, recognized for his extensive contributions to the film industry, both as an actor and director, created several iconic films like “The Princess Bride,” “A Few Good Men,” and “Stand By Me.” His wife, Michele, whom he met during the filming of “When Harry Met Sally,” was his partner for 36 years.