Nick Reiner, 32, has filed court documents requesting access to a $558,000 trust fund earmarked for him three years ago, arguing the funds are legally his regardless of pending murder charges. The request was made public in filings reviewed by multiple outlets, including the Los Angeles Times and NBC.
Reiner is accused of killing his parents, Rob Reiner and Michele Singer Reiner, in their Brentwood home in December 2023. He has pleaded not guilty to two counts of murder, with special circumstance allegations of multiple murders and murder by means of lying in wait. Reiner remains detained at Twin Towers Correctional Facility while awaiting trial.
Legal Battle Over Trust Fund Access
Reiner’s attorneys argue that the California Slayer Statute—which blocks individuals from benefiting from crimes they commit—does not apply in this case because the funds were owed to him before his parents’ deaths. The statute, they contend, prevents a killer from receiving assets created by the killing, not pre-existing property. A substantial portion of the trust, they note, consists of $1.6 million left to Reiner by his grandfather, Carl Reiner, Hollywood legend and former trustee of the account.
The trustee managing the account has withheld the funds, citing the Slayer Statute as justification. Reiner’s legal team counters that the statute is inapplicable because the money was disbursement-ready as of September 2023—three months before his parents’ deaths—and was not derived from their estate. They further argue that freezing the funds violates his constitutional right to access his own money while presumed innocent.
Funds Sought for High-Profile Defense
Reiner’s filing specifies that the $558,000 was owed to him on his 30th birthday in September 2023, predating the killings. His attorneys assert that denying access to these funds would be unconstitutional, as it would prevent him from retaining private counsel of his choosing. The funds were reportedly intended to cover legal fees, including the hiring of Alan Jackson, a prominent criminal defense attorney who previously represented Reiner before withdrawing from the case.
The trust in question is separate from larger family trusts holding the Reiner estate, which remain unaffected by this dispute. Reiner’s legal team emphasizes that the current motion pertains solely to the individual trust established for him by his parents, not the broader inheritance structures of the Reiner family.
Background: The Slayer Statute in Context
California’s Slayer Statute (California Probate Code § 250) is designed to prevent individuals from profiting from their crimes. Under the law, a person convicted of murdering another cannot inherit from or otherwise benefit financially from the victim’s estate. The statute has been invoked in cases where beneficiaries are accused of killing those who named them in wills or trusts.
Reiner’s case introduces a novel legal argument: whether the statute applies to funds that were already vested in him prior to the alleged crimes. His attorneys contend that the statute’s intent—to prevent unjust enrichment—does not extend to property already owned by the accused. The trustee’s position, however, remains that any financial benefit derived from the trust, even if pre-existing, could be construed as a prohibited gain under the statute.
Next Steps in the Legal Process
The court has not yet issued a ruling on Reiner’s motion to access the trust funds. If granted, the funds could be used to secure private legal representation, which Reiner’s team argues is critical for a fair defense. If denied, Reiner would be restricted to representation by the Los Angeles County Public Defender’s Office, which has been assigned to his case since Jackson’s withdrawal earlier this year.
The broader Reiner family trusts, including those holding the estates of Rob and Michele Reiner, are not part of this dispute. Those assets remain under the control of designated trustees, pending the resolution of the criminal case and any related probate proceedings.