Nick Reiner, who faces the death penalty for the alleged murder of his parents, is trying to unlock a $1.5 million trust fund to pay for his legal defense. A petition filed Monday in Los Angeles Superior Court asks a judge to order the release of the money, or at least half of it, as soon as possible.
According to Deadline, the petition was filed June 8 by attorney Anita Wu of Brown Neri Smith & Khan LLP on behalf of the 32-year-old Reiner. It names trustee Paul Kanin and incoming trustee Jodi Montgomery as the parties withholding the funds.
"Nick has a defense to present in the criminal case, and he is presently unable to fund it," the petition states.
The filing centers on the Nick Reiner Children's Trust, which originated in 1993. Reiner argues he was owed $750,000 upon his 30th birthday and that the trustee has not released those funds. The petition also warns that Reiner may be unable to access the second half of the trust when he turns 35 in just over two years if courts do not intervene.
"The harm is irreparable, and it grows with each day the Trustee withholds funds that are already Nick's," the document reads. "In the meantime, for reasons unknown to Petitioner, the Trustee continues to deplete Nick's funds by paying lawyers to raise one reason after another for holding on to Nick's money for another two years, all of which violate the plain terms of the Trust. None of this is in the beneficiary's best interest."
Nick Reiner is the youngest son of 78-year-old A Few Good Men director Rob Reiner and his 70-year-old photographer spouse Michelle Reiner. The couple was found dead in their Brentwood home on December 14, 2025, discovered by their youngest daughter. Nick Reiner was picked up by the LAPD a few hours later, miles from the home. He had been living with his parents for several weeks at the time of their deaths.
He was charged with two counts of first-degree murder with special circumstances shortly after the arrests. A conviction could result in life in prison or execution.
Reiner wants to retain attorney Alan Jackson as his lead defense counsel. Jackson and his firm had previously dropped out of representing Reiner at a news conference on January 7, after which the Public Defender's office took over. The current filing confirms that the withdrawal came down to a lack of funds.
A hearing on the trust money matter is scheduled for August 17 before Judge Ruben Garca.
