Nick Reiner can receive limited payments for jail commissary purchases from a trust established by his late parents, filmmaker Rob Reiner and photographer Michele Singer Reiner.
Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Ruben Garcia issued the written authorization on October 23 after initially reserving his decision at that morning’s hearing.
Reiner, 33, has pleaded not guilty to two counts of first-degree murder in his parents’ December 2025 deaths and remains in custody without bail.
Deputy Public Defender Kimberly Greene represents him in the criminal case. Attorneys Anita P. Wu and Geoffrey A. Neri have been pursuing his claims to the trust funds.
The Order Caps His Commissary Balance at $300
The minute order reviewed by PEOPLE authorizes successor trustee Jodi Pais Montgomery to make distributions to the account, “not to exceed $300.00 at any time.”
TMZ reported that the account can be replenished after the money is depleted. The restriction applies to the balance, rather than setting a monthly allowance.
At the hearing, Montgomery’s attorney, Lauriann Wright, urged Garcia to approve the request. She argued that the small payment could improve Reiner’s quality of life during his incarceration.
His Lawyers Previously Complained He Could Not Access ‘Even $5’
In September 17 filings covered by Wealth of Geeks, Reiner’s attorneys said he had been unable to obtain “even $5” from the trust for basic commissary purchases.
They alleged that former trustee Paul Kanin’s lawyer had agreed in April to fund the account. The legal team said it provided deposit instructions on April 21 and followed up, but the promised payment never arrived.
Kanin denied breaching his duties as trustee.
Former Trustee Says the Fund Paid Jackson’s Legal Bills
In an October court filing, Kanin said $348,821.14 from the trust had paid fees owed to Alan Jackson, Reiner’s original criminal defense attorney.
Wu told PEOPLE that the payment was made in April, months after Jackson withdrew in January because funding was unavailable.
“Paying for Mr. Jackson’s past work does not excuse withholding the rest of Nick’s money,” she said. Reiner is seeking funds that would allow him to retain Jackson again.
Kanin said he stopped approving further payments after learning that Reiner’s lawyers might use trust distributions to litigate against other Reiner family trusts. He argued that this possibility created a potential conflict of interest and contributed to his resignation.
Reiner Says a Larger Distribution Was Due Before the Deaths
The trust was established in 1993. Its terms provided for half the assets to be distributed when Reiner turned 30 and the remainder at 35, according to filings examined by the Los Angeles Times.
His attorneys are seeking at least $558,000 they say became payable in September 2023. They argue that this money was already his before the events underlying the criminal charges, even though it remained in the trust.
Montgomery has argued that the assets must be preserved while the court resolves whether California’s Slayer Statute applies.
Probate Code Section 250 bars someone who feloniously and intentionally kills another person from receiving specified property or benefits through that person’s estate or trust.
A criminal conviction is not always required. Under Section 254, a probate court can independently determine whether a killing was felonious and intentional using a preponderance-of-the-evidence standard. No final determination of Reiner’s entitlement to the disputed distribution has been reported.
December Mediation Will Address the Remaining Trust Dispute
The parties have scheduled mediation for December 16, 2026, before retired Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Mitchell L. Beckloff, who previously oversaw litigation involving Michael Jackson’s estate, Rolling Stone reported.
Wright expressed optimism that experienced attorneys on both sides could reach an agreement. She told the Los Angeles Times that claims involving money payable before the deaths might be easier to settle than requests beyond those earlier distributions.
Any agreement would require Garcia’s approval. A status conference in the trust case is scheduled for March 17, 2027.