Topline: The 32-year-old accused in Rob and Michelle Reiner’s stabbings asked a court to release assets from a trust to replace his public defender.
Published: June 10, 2026 6:00 am ET
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Nick Reiner appears in Los Angeles County Superior Court (via Chris Torres/Reuters)
LOS ANGELES, CA — Nick Reiner, the man accused of killing his parents, filmmaker Rob Reiner and photographer Michele Singer Reiner, filed a court petition seeking access to a trust fund worth more than $1.5 million to pay for his legal defense.
According to CNN, the 136-page petition filed in Los Angeles Superior Court on June 8 argues that the trustee has improperly withheld money that belongs to Reiner. His attorneys state that the funds are necessary to hire a private defense team and to purchase basic items while he remains jailed without bail.
Authorities arrested Nick Reiner in December 2025 after police found his parents stabbed to death in their Brentwood home. Prosecutors charged him with two counts of first-degree murder with special circumstances, and a preliminary hearing is scheduled for Sept. 15. He has pleaded not guilty.
According to the court filing, Rob and Michele Reiner established a separate trust for their son in 1993 with instructions that required half of the assets to be distributed when he turned 30. The petition states that Nick Reiner should receive the remaining half when he turns 35.
His civil attorneys argue that these distributions are mandatory and unconditional. The filing states that the money belongs to Nick Reiner and does not come from the larger family estate.
The suspect currently relies on a public defender after his initial private attorney, Alan Jackson, withdrew from the case in January. The petition states that his siblings, Jake Reiner and Romy Reiner, initially agreed to fund the private defense but the anticipated money did not materialize.
As per CNN, Jackson submitted a declaration with the petition stating his firm is ready and willing to resume representation if funds become available. Nick Reiner has no other financial means to pay for private counsel, according to the document.
The petition also notes that the trustee, Paul Kanin, expressed concerns regarding the suspect’s ability to manage the money. The defense argues that those concerns are unsupported and that no legal finding exists showing Nick Reiner is incompetent.
In addition to legal fees, the filing states that the suspect needs money for his jail commissary account. He intends to use the funds to buy clothing, socks, and personal hygiene products like soap.
The petition states that Nick Reiner loved his parents and is devastated by their deaths. It notes that the facts regarding the homicides are not at issue in the civil trust litigation.
A judge has not yet ruled on the request to release the funds. Los Angeles District Attorney Nathan Hochman has not yet announced if the office will pursue the death penalty.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
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Nick Reiner Seeks Trust Funds for Defense in Parents’ Murder
The 32-year-old accused in Rob and Michelle Reiner’s stabbings asked a court to release assets from a trust to replace his public defender.
By Kate Byrd
Published: June 10, 2026 6:00 am ET
Nick Reiner appears in Los Angeles County Superior Court (via Chris Torres/Reuters)
LOS ANGELES, CA — Nick Reiner, the man accused of killing his parents, filmmaker Rob Reiner and photographer Michele Singer Reiner, filed a court petition seeking access to a trust fund worth more than $1.5 million to pay for his legal defense.
According to CNN, the 136-page petition filed in Los Angeles Superior Court on June 8 argues that the trustee has improperly withheld money that belongs to Reiner. His attorneys state that the funds are necessary to hire a private defense team and to purchase basic items while he remains jailed without bail.
Authorities arrested Nick Reiner in December 2025 after police found his parents stabbed to death in their Brentwood home. Prosecutors charged him with two counts of first-degree murder with special circumstances, and a preliminary hearing is scheduled for Sept. 15. He has pleaded not guilty.
According to the court filing, Rob and Michele Reiner established a separate trust for their son in 1993 with instructions that required half of the assets to be distributed when he turned 30. The petition states that Nick Reiner should receive the remaining half when he turns 35.
His civil attorneys argue that these distributions are mandatory and unconditional. The filing states that the money belongs to Nick Reiner and does not come from the larger family estate.
The suspect currently relies on a public defender after his initial private attorney, Alan Jackson, withdrew from the case in January. The petition states that his siblings, Jake Reiner and Romy Reiner, initially agreed to fund the private defense but the anticipated money did not materialize.
As per CNN, Jackson submitted a declaration with the petition stating his firm is ready and willing to resume representation if funds become available. Nick Reiner has no other financial means to pay for private counsel, according to the document.
The petition also notes that the trustee, Paul Kanin, expressed concerns regarding the suspect’s ability to manage the money. The defense argues that those concerns are unsupported and that no legal finding exists showing Nick Reiner is incompetent.
In addition to legal fees, the filing states that the suspect needs money for his jail commissary account. He intends to use the funds to buy clothing, socks, and personal hygiene products like soap.
The petition states that Nick Reiner loved his parents and is devastated by their deaths. It notes that the facts regarding the homicides are not at issue in the civil trust litigation.
A judge has not yet ruled on the request to release the funds. Los Angeles District Attorney Nathan Hochman has not yet announced if the office will pursue the death penalty.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.
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Editor Picks
Latest Articles
Nick Reiner Seeks Trust Funds for Defense in Parents’ Murder
The 32-year-old accused in Rob and Michelle Reiner’s stabbings asked a court to release assets from a trust to replace his public defender.
By Kate Byrd
Published: June 10, 2026 6:00 am ET
Nick Reiner appears in Los Angeles County Superior Court (via Chris Torres/Reuters)
LOS ANGELES, CA — Nick Reiner, the man accused of killing his parents, filmmaker Rob Reiner and photographer Michele Singer Reiner, filed a court petition seeking access to a trust fund worth more than $1.5 million to pay for his legal defense.
According to CNN, the 136-page petition filed in Los Angeles Superior Court on June 8 argues that the trustee has improperly withheld money that belongs to Reiner. His attorneys state that the funds are necessary to hire a private defense team and to purchase basic items while he remains jailed without bail.
Authorities arrested Nick Reiner in December 2025 after police found his parents stabbed to death in their Brentwood home. Prosecutors charged him with two counts of first-degree murder with special circumstances, and a preliminary hearing is scheduled for Sept. 15. He has pleaded not guilty.
According to the court filing, Rob and Michele Reiner established a separate trust for their son in 1993 with instructions that required half of the assets to be distributed when he turned 30. The petition states that Nick Reiner should receive the remaining half when he turns 35.
His civil attorneys argue that these distributions are mandatory and unconditional. The filing states that the money belongs to Nick Reiner and does not come from the larger family estate.
The suspect currently relies on a public defender after his initial private attorney, Alan Jackson, withdrew from the case in January. The petition states that his siblings, Jake Reiner and Romy Reiner, initially agreed to fund the private defense but the anticipated money did not materialize.
As per CNN, Jackson submitted a declaration with the petition stating his firm is ready and willing to resume representation if funds become available. Nick Reiner has no other financial means to pay for private counsel, according to the document.
The petition also notes that the trustee, Paul Kanin, expressed concerns regarding the suspect’s ability to manage the money. The defense argues that those concerns are unsupported and that no legal finding exists showing Nick Reiner is incompetent.
In addition to legal fees, the filing states that the suspect needs money for his jail commissary account. He intends to use the funds to buy clothing, socks, and personal hygiene products like soap.
The petition states that Nick Reiner loved his parents and is devastated by their deaths. It notes that the facts regarding the homicides are not at issue in the civil trust litigation.
A judge has not yet ruled on the request to release the funds. Los Angeles District Attorney Nathan Hochman has not yet announced if the office will pursue the death penalty.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.
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