Nick Reiner Allowed to Receive Money From Family Trust for Jail Expenses as Legal Battle Continues

A Los Angeles judge has authorized Nick Reiner to receive up to $300 at a time from a family trust to pay for jail commissary items while a separate dispute over his access to the money continues. Reiner has pleaded not guilty to charges in the deaths of his parents, filmmaker Rob Reiner and Michele Singer Reiner.

Judge Approves Limited Access to Trust Funds

Nick Reiner, 33, has received permission to access a small portion of a trust established by his parents while he remains in custody awaiting trial.

On October 23, 2026, a judge authorized successor trustee Jodi Pais Montgomery to make distributions of up to $300 at a time into Reiner’s jail commissary account, according to a court order reviewed by PEOPLE.

The money can be used for items available through the jail’s commissary. The order is limited in scope and does not resolve the larger dispute over whether Reiner can access the trust to pay for his criminal defense.

Reiner’s attorneys had argued that he was unable to use the funds for basic necessities while awaiting trial, despite being the beneficiary of a substantial trust established by his parents.

The Dispute Over a $1.5 Million Trust

The trust is reportedly worth approximately $1.5 million. Reiner’s legal team has argued that he was entitled to receive a distribution of at least $558,000 when he turned 30 in September 2023, more than two years before his parents died.

His attorneys contend that the money became payable to him before the deaths and should not be treated as an inheritance that could be blocked under California law.

The trust’s representatives have taken a different position, arguing that the funds should remain protected until the legal questions surrounding the case are resolved.

The dispute centers in part on California’s Slayer Statute, which can prevent someone who unlawfully and intentionally kills another person from benefiting financially from the victim’s estate.

The court has not yet determined whether that statute applies to Reiner’s trust or the money he says was already owed to him.

Former Attorney’s Fees Add to the Conflict

The dispute has also involved payments made for Reiner’s previous legal representation.

Former trustee Paul Kanin stated in court filings that $348,821.14 from the trust had been used to pay fees owed to attorney Alan Jackson, who represented Reiner briefly after his arrest before withdrawing from the case.

Kanin disputed allegations that he mishandled the trust. He said concerns about potential conflicts of interest contributed to his decision to stop authorizing further payments and eventually step down as trustee.

Reiner’s attorney, Anita Wu, argued that paying for Jackson’s previous work did not justify withholding the remaining funds. She also said Reiner wanted access to the money so Jackson could potentially resume representing him.

Reiner is now represented by public defender Kimberly Greene in his criminal case.

Murder Charges Remain Pending

Reiner has been in custody since December 2025 in connection with the deaths of his parents, Rob and Michele Reiner, at their home in the Brentwood neighborhood of Los Angeles.

Prosecutors allege that he fatally stabbed his parents on December 14, 2025. A grand jury indicted him on two counts of first-degree murder, with special-circumstance allegations that include lying in wait and the use of a knife.

Reiner has pleaded not guilty and remains in custody without bail. He has not been convicted of the charges, and the allegations must be determined through the criminal justice process.

The dispute over the trust is a separate civil matter and does not determine his guilt or innocence in the murder case.

Mediation Scheduled for December

The parties have agreed to pursue mediation on December 16, 2026, in an effort to resolve the disagreement over the trust funds.

A further court conference is scheduled for March 17, 2027. Any settlement reached through mediation would still require the appropriate court approval.

For now, the judge’s order allows Reiner limited access to money for commissary purchases, while the broader question of whether he can use the trust to fund his legal defense remains unsettled.

The latest ruling provides limited financial relief during Reiner’s detention, but the central dispute over his entitlement to the family trust remains unresolved as he awaits trial.

Sources: PEOPLE