BRENTWOOD—Nick Reiner, 32, the middle child of late director Rob Reiner and his wife, Michele Singer Reiner, has asked his legal team to fight for access to a $1.5 million trust fund from his parents in court on Monday, August 17. Reiner is accused of murdering both his parents in their Brentwood home on December 14, 2025. He claims he needs the trust fund money to hire private legal counsel instead of relying on his public defender in his case.
His team argued that he is presumptively innocent since his criminal trial has not yet started and that Reiner is entitled to his own lawfully owed money. The current trustee, Jodi Montgomery, does not favor giving Reiner the money because of California’s Slayer Statute. California Probate Code 250, also known as the Slayer Statute, legally prevents anyone who intentionally kills another person from receiving any inheritance, trust payout, life insurance, or property from the victim. Reiner’s team argues the statute does not apply because he has not yet been proven guilty.
Veteran filmmaker Rob Reiner and his wife Michele were found dead in their home last December. Prosecutors allege they were fatally stabbed by their son Nick Reiner, who was arrested the same day and is charged with two counts of first-degree murder with special circumstances, along with use of a deadly weapon. He has since pleaded not guilty and remains in custody.
Reiner initially hired high-profile attorney Alan Jackson, but Jackson withdrew after Reiner could not pay, leaving Reiner with a public defender. It led to a separate probate fight over his parents’ trust fund. The trust dispute has moved to mediation, with the next court hearing in October 2026. Reiner is due back in court on September 15 for his criminal pretrial hearing.
