In a turn of financial and legal intrigue, Nick Reiner’s bid to tap into his $1.5 million trust fund for legal expenses and prison commissary purchases has hit a roadblock, courtesy of the trust’s overseers.
Recent court filings reveal a decisive move by the trustees, citing California’s stringent “slayer statute” as the rationale for denying access. Nick Reiner, facing charges in the heinous murder of his parents, Rob and Michele Reiner, is at the center of this legal storm.
According to Justia Law, the statute firmly prohibits individuals who are found to have feloniously and intentionally caused the death of another from inheriting or accessing funds set aside in wills or trusts created by the deceased.
“California law unequivocally denies any exception that would allow an accused killer to use an inheritance for criminal defense costs,” states Lauriann Wright, the attorney representing professional fiduciary Jodi Pais Montgomery. These insights were gleaned from records acquired by the New York Times.
Moreover, Wright noted that under the governance of the “slayer statute,” Nick Reiner’s share of the trust is slated for redistribution to his siblings, Romy and Jake Reiner, solidifying the legal repercussions of this tragic case.
She noted that although Nick is presumed innocent pending the murder trial, releasing the funds to him now would be “irreversible.”
In a statement to the Times, Nick’s lawyer, Anita P. Wu, rejected the claim that the law applies.
“The slayer statute requires a determination, not a mere accusation,” she said. “Nick is presumed innocent and has been convicted of nothing.”
In June, Nick, 32, demanded access to his $1.5 million trust fund to help him cover his legal fees as he fights the murder charges.
The “Being Charlie” writer stated in a petition that he was supposed to be paid half of his trust when he turned 30 in 2023 and the other half when he turns 35 in 2028.
Because the trust is “irrevocable,” Nick — who has been diagnosed with schizophrenia — claimed in the petition that the trustee is not sanctioned to withhold funds from a beneficiary, even if they are deemed incompetent.
Rob and Michele were found stabbed to death in their Brentwood, California, home last December. The filmmaker was 78 and the photographer was 70.
The “All in the Family” actor and Michele’s death certificates stated they died within “minutes” of receiving “multiple sharp force injuries” with a “knife, by another.”
Their youngest son, Nick, was arrested and charged with two counts of first-degree murder for the deaths.
In February, the screenwriter pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Nick is facing a maximum sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole or the death penalty.