Nick Reiner Seeks Access to Trust Fund for Legal Defense

Nick Reiner, son of Rob and Michele Reiner, is attempting to gain access to over $1.5 million from his trust fund to finance his defense against charges of murdering his parents. His lawyers filed a petition in a Los Angeles court, claiming that he has been unjustly denied access to the trust meant for his benefit since his 30th birthday.

The trust, established in 1993 as part of the Reiners’ estate plan, is separate from the family trust containing the estate’s broader assets. Each of the Reiners’ three children has an individual trust. Despite the trust being meant for the personal benefit of each child, Nick’s attorneys argue that he has not received the payments he is entitled to under the trust’s terms.

“Nick loved his parents, and he is devastated by their deaths. However, the facts about their death are not part of this trust litigation,” his attorneys stated. “Nick is presumed innocent and is entitled to use his resources for his defense.”

Nick, 32, was arrested shortly after his parents, Rob and Michele Reiner, were found murdered in their Brentwood home. He pleaded not guilty to two counts of murder. His defense team highlights his need for financial support to cover legal costs and commissary funds while in jail. His financial inability to secure his preferred attorney, Alan Jackson, who withdrew from the case due to unpaid fees, leaves him relying on a public defender.

The legal document indicates that the trust should have disbursed half of its funds to Nick by age 30, with the remainder due when he turns 35. “The Trustee’s refusal to release these funds, especially given Nick’s current situation, is an abuse of discretion,” the petition asserts. The petition states that the trust holds more than $1.5 million meant solely for Nick’s use.

Nick’s attorneys emphasize that with funds, he could reinstate Jackson as his attorney. Furthermore, they argue that using the trust to defend against criminal charges is vital given Nick’s circumstances. The case proceeds slowly, with some sources noting changes in Nick’s schizophrenia medication before his parents’ deaths.