Nick Reiner is seeking access to a trust fund established by his parents, filmmaker Rob Reiner and Michele Singer Reiner, as he awaits trial on charges related to their deaths.
The 32-year-old, who was arrested in December and has pleaded not guilty to two counts of first-degree murder, filed a petition in Los Angeles court on June 8, 2026, claiming he has been denied funds he became entitled to receive when he turned 30, according to court documents obtained by USA TODAY.
According to the filing, Rob and Michele Reiner created separate trusts for each of their children, with half of Nick's trust assets scheduled to be distributed when he turned 30 and the remainder at age 35. Nick alleges he never received the first mandatory distribution and has not been informed of the trust's full value, which the petition claims exceeds $1.5 million.
The petition argues that the funds are not part of his parents' estate but belong to Nick through an irrevocable trust established for his benefit. His attorneys are seeking the release of money to cover legal expenses and other costs associated with his incarceration.
Legal experts told PEOPLE the dispute may hinge on whether Nick was already entitled to the trust distribution before his parents’ deaths and whether California’s Slayer Statute applies. The statute is designed to prevent someone from inheriting or receiving financial benefits from a person they are found to have unlawfully and intentionally killed. However, if Nick was already entitled to the funds before the alleged murders, the statute may not apply.
Nick Reiner has been behind bars since Dec. 14, when law enforcement and prosecutors allege he fatally stabbed his parents at their Los Angeles home. He pleaded not guilty in February. Nick's next criminal court hearing is scheduled for Sept. 15, 2026. ~ Megan Parsons