Nick Reiner, the son of acclaimed filmmaker Rob Reiner, has asked a Los Angeles court to grant him access to money from a trust fund established by his parents, arguing that he needs the funds to support his legal defence against allegations that he killed them.
In a petition filed Monday in Los Angeles County court, Reiner’s civil attorneys claim that the trustees managing the trust have withheld money that rightfully belongs to him and have done so without legal grounds. According to the filing, Reiner should be allowed immediate access to those funds.
“Nick loved his parents, and he is devastated by their deaths. But the facts about what did and did not happen to them are not at issue in this Trust litigation,” the petition states. “Like anyone accused of a crime, Nick is presumed innocent, and he is entitled to mount his defense with the resources that are lawfully his own.”
Rob Reiner, a celebrated Hollywood director, and his wife, photographer and producer Michele Singer Reiner, were found stabbed to death in their Brentwood home in Los Angeles on December 14, 2025.
Nick Reiner, 32, was arrested later that same day and has pleaded not guilty to two counts of murder.
Shortly after his arrest, Reiner retained prominent defence attorney Alan Jackson. However, Jackson withdrew from the case less than a month later, citing reasons he could not publicly disclose. The new court filing reveals that Reiner’s siblings, Jake and Romy Reiner, had initially agreed to cover Jackson’s legal fees but later changed their decision.
In a declaration attached to the petition, Jackson stated that “my firm stands ready, willing, and able to resume representation of Mr. Reiner” if funding becomes available.
The filing explains that, separate from the broader Reiner family trust, Rob and Michele Reiner created individual trusts for each of their children. According to the petition, Nick Reiner’s trust, established in 1993, contained clear instructions that he would receive half of its assets at age 30 and the remaining half at age 35.
The petition argues that Reiner never received the portion he was entitled to when he turned 30. It further alleges that the current trustee, attorney Paul R. Kanin, who has overseen the trust since February, has offered “a shifting series of excuses and justifications” for withholding the money. Among those reasons were concerns about Reiner’s competence, which the filing argues are irrelevant because the payments were mandatory under the trust’s terms.
Trust Reportedly Holds at Least $1.5 Million
Reiner is also requesting immediate access to the funds scheduled for release when he turns 35, arguing that he requires the money both for his legal defence and for basic necessities while incarcerated.
According to the petition, the trust contains at least $1.5 million US in assets, although it alleges that Kanin has not disclosed the trust’s exact value.
Kanin did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Meanwhile, the criminal case against Reiner continues to move slowly through the court system. His next pretrial hearing is scheduled for September.
Prosecutors have not yet decided whether they will seek the death penalty. District Attorney Nathan Hochman has said that his office is still considering that option.
Authorities have released very little information about the case. No motive has been publicly identified, and there have been almost no leaks from either side. A court order has also kept most autopsy details confidential, leaving many key questions about the killings unanswered.
When Jackson stepped away from the case, he spoke briefly outside the courthouse, insisting that “pursuant to the laws of California, Nick Reiner is not guilty of murder.”
In April, Nick’s brother Jake Reiner publicly reflected on the tragedy for the first time in detail, describing the situation as “a living nightmare” that is “too devastating to comprehend.”
Rob Reiner built a distinguished career as a director, creating several of the most beloved films of the 1980s and 1990s, including This Is Spinal Tap, Stand By Me, and A Few Good Men. During the production of When Harry Met Sally, he met photographer Michele Singer. The couple married shortly afterward and remained together for 36 years.
Harnaik Singh Rathor is the Founder, Publisher, and Editor-in-Chief of StudioX News Canada, Canada's multilingual digital news network serving diaspora communities across 44 languages. With a background in media production, public relations, and multicultural communications, he founded StudioX Film and TV Corporation to bridge the gap between mainstream Canadian media and the country's diverse immigrant communities. He is a member of the Canadian Association of Journalists (CAJ), RTDNA Canada, CPRS Vancouver, Unifor, NEPMCC, and the Canada Freelance Union. Based in Surrey, British Columbia. | LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/harnaiksinghrathor/ | Muck Rack: https://muckrack.com/harnaiksinghrathor | Email: editor@studioxnews.ca
