Nick Reiner’s Trust Fund Fight Escalates as Slayer Statute Blocks Defense Funds

Key points

• Nick Reiner is seeking access to a trust fund worth over $1.6 million, specifically the $558,000 distribution he claims was due when he turned 30 in 2023.
• The current trustee, Jodi Montgomery, cites California’s slayer statute to block disbursement, arguing Reiner cannot inherit from the parents he is accused of murdering.
• Reiner’s legal team argues the trust existed before the 2025 killings and that he never consented to leaving the funds in the trust, contradicting the trustee’s claims.
• Reiner has spent $200,000 on legal fees and receives only $300 monthly for commissary items, while his former high-profile attorney, Alan Jackson, withdrew from the case in January.
• A civil hearing was moved to October 23, while Reiner faces a criminal pretrial hearing on September 15, with no trial date yet set.

Background

Nick Reiner was arrested in December 2025 after his parents, filmmaker Rob Reiner and producer Michele Singer Reiner, were found stabbed to death in their Brentwood home. He was indicted in August 2026 on two counts of first-degree murder with special circumstances, including 'lying in wait.' This trust dispute follows earlier coverage of his indictment and his ongoing struggle to secure private legal representation while incarcerated at the Twin Towers Correctional Facility.

How outlets are covering it

Page Six emphasizes the financial strain on Reiner, noting he has already paid $200,000 in legal fees and receives minimal commissary funds. The New York Times highlights the legal hurdle of the slayer statute, which the trustee uses to block the funds. The Los Angeles Times details the trustee’s argument that Reiner’s basic needs are met by the state, negating the need for trust funds for defense. Deadline focuses on the conflict between Reiner’s attorney and the trustee, Jodi Montgomery, a former Britney Spears conservatorship trustee, who argues Reiner is not entitled to the money until age 35. The outlets differ on the trustee’s motives, with Page Six and Deadline suggesting the trustee is using Reiner’s money to litigate against him, while the Los Angeles Times presents the trustee’s position as a prudent legal caution.

Why it matters

The outcome of this civil dispute could determine whether Nick Reiner can afford a private defense team for a high-profile murder trial that may result in life without parole or the death penalty. It also tests the limits of California’s slayer statute in cases where trust distributions were scheduled before the alleged crime, potentially setting a precedent for similar cases involving accused heirs.

What to watch

A civil hearing regarding the trust fund is scheduled for October 23, 2026, while a criminal pretrial hearing is set for September 15, 2026. Both sides have expressed openness to mediation, but no trial date has been set for the murder case. The trustee may continue to withhold funds pending the outcome of the criminal proceedings or further court orders.