Nick Reiner, accused of the murder of his parents, Rob Reiner and Michele Singer Reiner, has been barred from accessing a $1.5-million US trust fund he sought to use for his legal defense. In a recent filing, Reiner had been trying to claim allegedly unpaid funds from a trust his parents set up for him in 1993.
Trustees, as per court documents obtained by CBC News, turned down Reiner’s request for the money, citing a California law section known as the “slayer statute,” which prohibits individuals from inheriting assets from someone they have intentionally killed. Rob Reiner, a renowned director and actor, and his wife, Michele, a photographer and producer, were fatally stabbed in their California residence on Dec. 14, 2025. Their son, Nick Reiner, was taken into custody hours later.
The 32-year-old was formally charged with murder on July 20 and has pleaded not guilty. The indictment, unveiled by a Los Angeles County grand jury, claims that Reiner ambushed his parents before the attack. This detail, among other factors, raises the possibility of him facing the death penalty, although the District Attorney’s office is yet to make a final decision on seeking it.
Reiner is set to appear in court for a pretrial hearing in September, represented currently by public defender Kimberly Greene. The filing from June revealed that aside from the main trust fund, smaller individual trusts were established for the Reiner children, where Nick Reiner was supposed to receive his share at the age of 30 and the remainder at 35. However, he alleged in the petition that he had not received the funds due to him at 30, claiming that the trustees were withholding his rightful access.
The total assets in the fund were estimated at over $1.5 million US. Notably, high-profile attorney Alan Jackson initially represented Reiner but withdrew without explanation within a month. The filing also disclosed that Reiner’s siblings, Jake and Romy Reiner, initially agreed to cover his legal expenses before retracting their support.
The issue of accessing the trust fund is pending due to uncertainties surrounding the criminal case against Reiner, according to court documents from the former and current trustees. The filing emphasized that until the outcome of the criminal proceedings is clear and any related legal principles are resolved, the funds cannot be distributed.
Despite the passing months, many details of the case remain undisclosed to the public, including possible motives. Jake Reiner, the eldest son of the deceased couple, shared his anguish in April over the tragic loss of his parents and the attention drawn to his brother’s alleged involvement in the incident.
Rob Reiner’s contributions to the film industry, both as an actor and director of iconic movies like “The Princess Bride,” “A Few Good Men,” and “Stand By Me,” were widely recognized. His romance with Michele, whom he met while filming “When Harry Met Sally,” lasted for 36 years until their untimely demise.
