Nick Reiner Says He Hasn’t Even Received $5 From $1.6M Family Trust; Lawyers Seek $558K Age‑30 Payout

Nick Reiner says he has been unable to access “not even $5” from a family trust to buy commissary items while awaiting trial on charges in the deaths of his parents, according to two replies filed Sept. 17 in Los Angeles County Superior Court.

Background

The 33‑year‑old has been detained at the Twin Towers Correctional Facility in Los Angeles since December 2025. He is the sole beneficiary of the Nick Reiner Children’s Trust Dated December 2, 1993, which his parents established and that is valued at roughly $1.6 million.

Nick Reiner (left) and his parents Rob and Michele Singer Reiner (right).Credit: Todd Williamson/JanuaryImages/Shutterstock; Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty

What the Filings Say

In responses to objections from successor trustee Jodi Pais Montgomery and former trustee Paul R. Kanin, Reiner’s attorneys—Anita P. Wu and Geoffrey A. Neri—say their client has been unable to access trust funds for basic needs or to retain private criminal defense counsel.

“In the meantime, Nick still has not been able to access even $5 from his trust to buy basic subsistence items from the jail commissary,” the Montgomery reply states.

The Age‑30 Distribution

Central to the dispute is an "Age‑30 Distribution" required by the trust when Reiner turned 30 on Sept. 14, 2023. Citing the successor trustee’s own calculations, Reiner’s lawyers say at least $558,000 became due that day and vested before his parents’ deaths—an argument they say excludes it from California’s Slayer Statute, which can bar a beneficiary from receiving assets obtained through a death they unlawfully caused.

Nathan Hochman on Dec. 3, 2024.Credit: David Crane/MediaNews Group/Los Angeles Daily News via Getty

Commissary Funds, Fees, And Defense Costs

Reiner’s counsel also accuses former trustee Paul R. Kanin of agreeing in April 2026 to deposit funds to replenish Reiner’s commissary account but never completing the transfer. Kanin served as trustee for roughly 15 weeks before resigning in May 2026; his conduct is contested in the filings.

The replies further assert that trustees’ lawyers have already incurred more than $250,000 in fees paid from the trust—funds Reiner’s attorneys say are effectively being used to litigate against the beneficiary. They argue that withholding the Age‑30 Distribution and other trust assets has prevented Reiner from hiring private counsel and experts, prejudicing his defense.

Nick Reiner's former attorney Alan Jakcon on Jan. 7, 2026.Credit: Frederic J. Brown / AFP via Getty

Criminal Case And Counsel

Reiner was indicted in July on two counts of first‑degree murder with special circumstances alleging lying in wait and the use of a knife; the charges carry potential penalties up to life without the possibility of parole. Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan J. Hochman said on Sept. 15 that prosecutors will not seek the death penalty.

Attorney Alan Jackson initially represented Reiner following his December 2025 arrest but withdrew the following month, citing circumstances beyond his control. Reiner has since been represented by the Los Angeles County Public Defender and has said he hopes to rehire Jackson if he gains access to trust funds.

Nick Reiner in 2024.Credit: Denise Truscello/Getty

What Reiner’s Lawyers Are Asking For

• Payment of the Age‑30 Distribution, including any growth while the funds were withheld.
• An order directing the successor trustee to fund Reiner’s commissary account.
• Clarification that trust funds may be used to pay for criminal defense costs.
• Bifurcation of breach‑of‑trust claims against Kanin for further proceedings.

Trustees’ Response And Next Steps

Successor trustee Montgomery opposes distributions while the criminal case and any application of the Slayer Statute remain unresolved. Kanin denies breaching his fiduciary duties and says he administered the trust prudently.

A hearing on the trust dispute is scheduled for Oct. 23 at 8:30 a.m. before Judge Ruben Garcia at the Stanley Mosk Courthouse in Los Angeles County Superior Court.

Note: This article summarizes court filings and claims by the parties. The allegations are contested and the criminal case is ongoing.