Nick Reiner filed a legal petition in a Los Angeles County court on Monday, seeking immediate access to funds from a trust established by his late parents to pay for his defense against charges that he murdered them.
The 32-year-old was arrested in December following the fatal stabbings of his parents, filmmaker Rob Reiner and photographer Michele Singer Reiner, at their Brentwood home.
>>> Alligator Attacks Fleeing Driver in Louisiana Swamp During Police Pursuit
Civil attorneys representing Reiner stated that the trustee overseeing the funds has withheld distributions without legal justification.
According to the petition obtained by TMZ, the trust holds at least $1.5 million in assets.
Terms established in 1993 mandated that Reiner receive half of the funds at age 30 and the remainder at 35, but the initial payout was never made.
The filing indicates that civil trustee Paul R. Kanin cited changing justifications for the denial, including inquiries regarding competence.
Legal representatives for Reiner asserted these concerns have no legal bearing on the mandatory disbursements required by the trust.
Reiner's legal team emphasized that he is entitled to use his own inheritance to secure private counsel after his siblings rescinded their initial agreement to pay for his representation.
High-profile defense attorney Alan Jackson stated he is prepared to return to the case if funding is secured.
The legal filing included a specific statement regarding Reiner's emotional state and his legal rights to the disputed inheritance money.
"Nick loved his parents, and he is devastated by their deaths.
But the facts about what did and did not happen to them are not at issue in this Trust litigation," the petition says.
"Like anyone accused of a crime, Nick is presumed innocent, and he is entitled to mount his defense with the resources that are lawfully his own."
>>> British Court Jails Clifton George for Partner Murder
Reiner previously retained Jackson before the attorney departed the case due to the sudden lack of financial compensation from the family trust resources.
Jackson clarified his position regarding his potential return as lead defense counsel outside the courtroom.
"My firm stands ready, willing, and able to resume representation of Mr. Reiner," Jackson said.
Jackson had previously maintained a firm public stance regarding the criminal allegations faced by his client during the initial arraignment proceedings in California state court.
"Pursuant to the laws of California, Nick Reiner is not guilty of murder," Jackson said.
The broader Reiner family continues to deal with the aftermath of the tragedy, which claimed the lives of the prominent Hollywood director and his wife of 36 years.
Brother Jake Reiner publicly expressed the emotional toll the double homicide investigation has taken on the surviving family members.
"A living nightmare," Jake Reiner said.
He further described the gravity of the situation involving his parents and his brother as "too devastating to comprehend."
Reiner has pleaded not guilty to two counts of first-degree murder with special circumstances involving the use of a knife.
>>> Audi Unveils Third Generation Q7 and SQ7 Luxury SUVs
He remains in custody ahead of a pretrial hearing scheduled for September 2026, while the District Attorney determines whether to seek the death penalty.
