The so-called “slayer statute” could bar Nick Reiner from accessing money in a trust set up by his parents to help fund his legal defense
NEED TO KNOW
- Nick Reiner’s former attorney Alan Jackson spoke after a probate hearing on Monday, Aug. 17
- The hearing took place days after a trustee blocked Reiner’s access to a trust fund set up by his late parents Rob Reiner and photographer Michele Singer Reiner
- Nick has been indicted in connection with the killings of Rob and Michele in their home in December
Nick Reiner’s former attorney, Alan Jackson, said Monday that the 32-year-old should be allowed access to money from a trust established by his late parents, filmmaker Rob Reiner and photographer Michele Singer Reiner, whom he’s accused of killing.
Jackson spoke to reporters on Monday, Aug. 17, amid an ongoing legal battle over California’s “slayer statute” that could deny Nick the funds for his defense.
The latest trustee of Nick’s trust fund has denied his request to access roughly $558,000 from a $1.5 million trust created by his parents, citing the statute. Nick has argued he has been entitled to the money since he was 30 and needs it to pay his legal fees while awaiting trial in connection with his parents’ deaths.
The “slayer statute” bars someone accused of intentionally killing the creators of a trust from receiving those assets before the criminal case is resolved. A lawyer for the trustee said in a court filing previously obtained by PEOPLE that releasing the money now could be “irreversible” if Reiner is ultimately convicted. If that happens, the funds would instead go to his siblings, Jake and Romy.
On Monday, Jackson spoke to reporters following a probate hearing. “The main thing to take away from today’s hearing and moving forward is that Nick Reiner is very much entitled to his own money, his own funds,” he said.
“He’s made a determination that he wants to be able to use his funds that are in his trust account to decide on his criminal counsel. And when he’s allowed to do that, he will then be able to defend himself in the way that the Constitution indicates that he should and can defend himself,” Jackson said. “It’s about Nick Reiner’s money and his own money.”
Credit: Chris Torres-Pool/Getty; Amanda Edwards/WireImage
Nick was indicted in July of two counts of first-degree murder, with special circumstances of lying in wait, in addition to the use of a knife, according to an indictment unsealed last week.
He has pleaded not guilty to the charges.
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Jackson represented Reiner after his December 2025 arrest but withdrew from the murder case the following month, citing only “circumstances beyond our control.” Reiner has since been represented by a public defender.
In a probate filing this summer, Reiner claimed Jackson’s firm withdrew after expected funding for his defense fell through. Reiner said in the filing he hoped to rehire Jackson if he gained access to the trust funds.
Reiner has pleaded not guilty to all charges. The dispute over access to his trust remains ongoing. A decision on the disbursement of the funds was continued until Oct. 23, despite a request from Reiner’s attorneys that funds be released immediately.
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