The legal battle over a $1.6 million trust fund has taken a sharp turn as a professional fiduciary moved to block Nick Reiner from accessing his inheritance while he faces murder charges. This development pitted the 32-year-old against the stewards of a fund established by his late parents, Rob Reiner and Michele Singer Reiner. It also highlighted the complexities of navigating inheritance laws while active criminal proceedings are underway.
According to The New York Times, a financial steward has formally argued in court papers that California’s “slayer statute” prevents Reiner from using the trust money to cover his legal defense costs. This specific law is designed to stop individuals from inheriting property or money from anyone they have feloniously and intentionally killed.
Per PEOPLE, the incoming fiduciary, Jodi Pais Montgomery, and a previous fiduciary, Paul Kanin, have both opposed the request to release these funds. The core of their argument is that the ongoing criminal proceedings must be resolved before the fate of the trust can be determined.
Deciding who owns the money
NYT reported that Reiner took legal action to access the funds. He is currently being held without bail at the Twin Towers Correctional Facility in Los Angeles as a suspect in the murder of his parents. Reiner reportedly argued that he needs these funds to hire a private lawyer, as he is currently represented by a public defender.
Beyond his legal defense, Reiner indicated that he needs access to the trust for necessities, including soap and socks, for his commissary account. He reportedly claimed that he is entitled to a distribution of one-half of the trust, which should have been paid out when he turned 30. His lawyer, Anita P. Wu, has estimated this portion to be roughly $558,000.
According to the outlet, the legal standoff centers on whether the protections of the slayer statute apply to an individual who has been indicted but not yet convicted. Lauriann Wright, a lawyer for the fiduciary, was clear about the firm’s position in court filings. “California has enacted no exception permitting a killer’s inheritance to be used for criminal defense costs,” she wrote.
According to The New York Times, Wright further argued that the fiduciary has a responsibility to Reiner’s siblings, Romy and Jake, who would be the recipients of the funds if the slayer statute is applied. While acknowledging that Reiner is presumed innocent, the filings emphasize that releasing the money now would be an “irreversible” move.
Per the report, Wu pushed back against these assertions. “The slayer statute requires a determination, not a mere accusation,” she said. “Nick is presumed innocent and has been convicted of nothing.” In a two-page declaration filed on Friday, Reiner personally addressed the claims that he had consented to leave his money in the trust after turning 30.
According to PEOPLE, Reiner stated, “I did not give my consent to any trustee of my trust to withhold, defer or retain my age-30 distribution indefinitely as ‘property of the trust.’” He also added, “As I have stated in my petition and other documents, I would like for my money to be released.”
The stakes are high for Reiner’s defense strategy. Per NYT, if he cannot access these funds, it remains unclear whether he will be able to retain the services of high-profile criminal defense lawyer Alan Jackson. Jackson had previously represented Reiner but withdrew after the family decided not to fund his services. The situation is further complicated by the fact that the trust was established for Reiner in 1993, shortly after his birth.
The criminal case against him is moving forward, with a grand jury having returned an indictment in July on two counts of first-degree murder. The New York Times reported that this indictment replaced previous charges and included a new special circumstance of lying in wait, along with the alleged use of a knife. As the legal teams prepare for future proceedings, the dispute over the trust fund remains unresolved.
The outlet noted that a hearing is scheduled for Monday, and Reiner is expected to return to court for a pretrial hearing on September 15. The incoming fiduciary, per the court papers, maintains that “no distribution should be made until the Court resolves whether” the slayer statute should affect Nick’s entitlement.
As noted in the filings, the urgency expressed by Reiner is acknowledged, but the fiduciary maintains that the situation stems from the deaths of his parents, who were the original settlors of the trust.
Published: Aug 18, 2026 05:10 am