Nick Reiner wants his inheritance — and he wants it now.
The 32-year-old son of actor and director Rob Reiner filed a petition in a Los Angeles County court on Monday, asking a judge to order trustees to release money from a trust his parents set up for him. His lawyers say the trustees have denied him the funds without legal justification.
Nick needs the money to pay for his defense. He's been charged with murdering his own parents.
“Nick loved his parents, and he's devastated by their deaths. But the facts about what did and didn't happen to them aren't yet known,” the petition states, according to court records.
The case is already one of the most shocking Hollywood tragedies in years. Rob Reiner, 79, and his wife Michele Singer Reiner were found dead at their Los Angeles home in March. Nick was arrested days later and charged with two counts of murder.
Now, with a trial looming, Nick's legal team argues he needs access to the trust funds to mount a proper defense. They claim the trustees are withholding the money without a valid reason.
Neither the names of the trustees nor the exact amount in the trust have been made public. But court filings suggest the fund is substantial — Rob Reiner built a career spanning five decades, from his iconic role as Mike “Meathead” Stivic on All in the Family to directing classics like When Harry Met Sally… and A Few Good Men.
Nick's petition is scheduled for a hearing in the coming weeks. A judge will decide whether the trustees must release the funds or whether they can continue to hold them.
For now, Nick remains in custody without bail. His criminal case is proceeding separately from the civil fight over the trust.
“Nick loved his parents, and he's devastated by their deaths. But the facts about what did and didn't happen to them aren't [yet known].” — Nick Reiner's petition
The case has gripped Hollywood and true-crime followers alike. If the judge rules in Nick's favor, it could give him the resources to hire top-tier defense lawyers. If not, he may have to rely on a public defender.
Either way, the trust dispute adds a bitter layer to an already tragic story — a son fighting in court for the money his parents left him, even as he's accused of taking their lives.