Siblings Jake and Romy Reiner are reportedly taking a firm stance against their brother, Nick Reiner, attempting to access a substantial inheritance to pay for his legal defense. Nick Reiner, 32, faces two counts of murder for allegedly fatally stabbing their parents, Hollywood director Rob Reiner, 78, and his wife, photographer-producer Michele, 70, at their Brentwood home on December 14.
Nick Reiner has pleaded not guilty to the charges. His legal team filed a probate petition in June, seeking access to his $1.63 million trust fund, which was established by his parents. The petition claims that Jake and Romy backed out of an initial verbal agreement to cover his legal expenses.
During a recent court hearing, Nick's attorney, Anita Wu, stated that delays have led to significant depletion of the trust fund due to legal fees. "The trust is being consumed and depleted by attorneys' fees with all of this delay and work," Wu argued, asserting that attorneys representing the trust are using Nick's money to prevent him from accessing it. Wu also claimed that over $200,000 has been spent by attorneys hired to block Nick's petition, adding that "the clock is running out on his defense."
Attorneys for the trust have opposed Nick's petition, citing California's "Slayer Statute." This law prohibits individuals from inheriting or benefiting from the estate of a victim they are accused of killing.
Sources close to the family told the Daily Mail that Jake, 34, and Romy, 28, are not entirely abandoning their brother but are establishing boundaries for their own healing. "It's not an issue of love or not, it's an issue of how much do you allow someone to take from you," a long-time family friend told the outlet. "Knowing that he's using their inheritance for his defense is just too much. They won't allow that if they can help it."
Another source indicated that Jake and Romy remain steadfast in their decision. "Their parents never turned their backs on their kids and were the best parents," the source said. "[Rob and Michele] would do anything for their kids but Romy and Jake, who are extremely close and similar, are not budging about helping their brother access the trust."
Tracy, the siblings' older half-sister and Rob Reiner's adopted daughter from his previous marriage with actress Penny Marshall, is also reportedly in agreement with cutting Nick off from the trust fund. Tracy, 61, is said to be doing well financially and was more interested in sentimental items from her mother's estate.
According to the petition, Nick was due to receive the entire trust upon turning 35. He had access to $558,000 when he turned 30 but reportedly chose not to take it at that time.
Lawyers representing the fiduciary overseeing the trust have argued that an interim distribution would be irreversible and that the outcome of Nick's trial will determine entitlement to the trust. They stated that the disputed property is "reasonably in dispute," supporting the trustee's decision to preserve it.
During the recent hearing, Nick's attorney also mentioned that fiduciary Jodi Montgomery had agreed to provide $300 for commissary expenses and past legal bills incurred when attorney Alan Jackson previously represented Nick. Jackson, who has represented high-profile clients, expressed his willingness to rejoin Nick's defense team if the trust issue could be resolved, emphasizing that access to funds is "time sensitive" for Nick to "defend himself in the way the Constitution he should and can defend himself."
The next hearing on the trust petition is scheduled for October 23, while Nick's pretrial conference in his criminal case is set for September 15. Nick faces charges including multiple murders and murder by lying in wait, with the use of a deadly weapon.