Nick Reiner’s Former Attorney Says He Should Be Allowed to Access Trust Money Despite ‘Slayer Statute’

Nick Reiner’s former lawyer is speaking out over the ongoing dispute surrounding a $1.5 million trust established by his late parents, arguing that Reiner should be permitted to use his own funds to pay for his criminal defense.

Alan Jackson addressed reporters on Monday, Aug. 17, following a probate court hearing concerning the trust belonging to the 32-year-old, who has been charged in connection with the deaths of his parents, filmmaker Rob Reiner and photographer Michele Singer Reiner.

 

The dispute centers on approximately $558,000 that Reiner has sought to access from the trust. His parents established the fund, and Reiner has argued that he became entitled to the money when he turned 30 and should now be able to use it to cover his legal expenses while awaiting trial.

However, the trustee overseeing the account recently rejected his request, citing California’s so-called “slayer statute.” The law can prevent a person accused of intentionally killing the person who established a trust from receiving or benefiting from those assets while the criminal case remains unresolved.

Attorneys for the trustee have argued that releasing the money before the criminal proceedings are concluded could create a situation that would be difficult or impossible to reverse if Reiner is ultimately convicted. Under that scenario, the trust assets would instead pass to his siblings, Jake and Romy.

Jackson, who previously represented Reiner, disagreed with the position that the funds should remain inaccessible.

“The main thing to take away from today’s hearing and moving forward is that Nick Reiner is very much entitled to his own money, his own funds,” Jackson told reporters.

 

According to Jackson, Reiner wants to use the money held in the trust to select and retain his own criminal defense attorney rather than rely on court-appointed representation.

“He’s made a determination that he wants to be able to use his funds that are in his trust account to decide on his criminal counsel,” Jackson said. He added that having access to those funds would allow Reiner to defend himself in accordance with his constitutional rights.

Jackson emphasized that, in his view, the dispute is fundamentally about Reiner’s ability to use money that belongs to him.

“It’s about Nick Reiner’s money and his own money,” he said.

The legal fight comes as Reiner faces two counts of first-degree murder in connection with the deaths of his parents. He was indicted in July, with prosecutors alleging special circumstances involving lying in wait and the use of a knife. The indictment was unsealed last week.

Reiner has pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The trust dispute could ultimately have significant consequences for Reiner’s defense strategy. His attorneys have asked that the money be released immediately, but the court did not grant that request during Monday’s hearing. Instead, a decision regarding the distribution of the funds was continued until Oct. 23.

Jackson previously represented Reiner following his arrest in December 2025. The attorney withdrew from the murder case the following month, citing “circumstances beyond our control.” Reiner has since been represented by a public defender.

In a probate filing made this summer, Reiner claimed that Jackson’s law firm withdrew after anticipated funding for his defense was no longer available. Reiner also stated that he hoped to bring Jackson back onto his legal team if he were able to gain access to the trust money.

For now, however, Reiner remains unable to access the disputed portion of the trust, leaving the question of whether he can use those assets for his defense unresolved.

The court’s Oct. 23 hearing is expected to provide the next major development in the fight over the approximately $558,000. Until then, the question of whether California’s “slayer statute” can prevent Reiner from accessing the trust remains at the center of the probate dispute.