Nick Reiner may be able to use his late parents’ fortune to fund his high-profile legal defense, even as he stands accused of fatally stabbing them.
As widely reported, Rob Reiner and his wife, Michele, were found dead inside their home on December 14.
The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner confirmed both died from “multiple sharp force injuries” and ruled their deaths a homicide.
Their 32-year-old son was arrested later that night and charged with two counts of first-degree murder.
Nick Reiner has been accused of killing his parents. Credit: Laura Cavanaugh / Getty
Could Nick access family money for his defense?
Despite the charges against him, Nick could potentially use money from the Reiners’ estimated $200 million estate to pay for his legal defense - even though California’s “Slayer Statute” prevents anyone convicted of “intentionally killing” someone from inheriting their estate.
Nick is represented by top criminal defense attorney Alan Jackson, raising questions about how he’s funding such a high-profile legal team.
Estate planning lawyer Scott Schomer said that Nick might be able to access funds if his siblings, Jake and Romy, or other beneficiaries approved it through the estate trustee.
“Sort of like a CEO to shareholders, a trustee works for the beneficiaries,” Schomer said, per The New York Post. “Maybe they want to see their brother defended.”
Reiner also had an adopted daughter, Tracy, from his first marriage.
If a trust fund had been set up for Nick before his parents’ deaths, he could still receive payments - but trustees could stop distributions if they no longer “further the purposes of the trust”, according to California attorney Neama Rahmani, per The New York Post.
Schomer also noted that if the suspect is convicted, trustees who approved those payments could be held liable. He said: “You shouldn’t profit from murdering someone.”
It remains unclear whether any of the Reiner estate is currently being used to fund Nick’s defense. No court documents have revealed how his legal fees are being covered, and Schomer speculated that Jackson may be taking the case pro bono for the publicity.
Ultimately, if Nick is convicted, the law will treat him as if he predeceased his parents for inheritance purposes. And if he is found not guilty by reason of insanity, a civil lawsuit could still block any claim to the estate.
Rob’s Horrifying Confession About His Son
Just hours before the murders, the late filmmaker reportedly confided in friends at Conan O’Brien’s holiday party about his growing fear of Nick’s mental state.
According to a source at Reiner's memorial, one unnamed celebrity told the crowd: “I’m petrified of [Nick]. I can’t believe I’m going to say this, but I’m afraid of my son. I think my own son can hurt me," per Daily Mail.
Witnesses said the father and son had argued at the party, and described Nick’s behavior as erratic and unsettling.
“Nick was freaking everyone out, acting crazy, kept asking people if they were famous,” one insider told PEOPLE. Another said he disrupted a conversation with Bill Hader before storming off.
Friends close to the family said Rob and Michele were “scared for Nick and scared that his mental state was deteriorating", cited by NYP.
Nick's arraignment is scheduled for January 7, 2026. Prosecutors are considering whether to pursue the death penalty, though California’s governor has maintained a moratorium on executions since 2019.