Nick Reiner is accused of murdering his parents, renowned Hollywood director Rob Reiner and his wife, Michele Singer. If found guilty, he could face life in prison and lose any money he might have inherited from them.
On Tuesday, 32-year-old Nick was officially charged with the first-degree murder of a 78-year-old director and his 70-year-old wife. He’s accused of killing the couple violently at their home.
Celebrity Net Worth estimates the filmmaker’s fortune at $200 million. However, his son, Nick, could be legally barred from receiving any inheritance if he‘s convicted of a crime, due to a California law called the Slayer Rule (found in Probate Code Section 250).
The Slayer Rule stops someone who intentionally and illegally kills another person from being able to inherit anything from that person’s estate.
According to California law, specifically Section 250 – often called the ‘Slayer Rule’ – someone convicted of intentionally and unlawfully killing another person cannot inherit anything from the victim. As Craig Parker, Assistant General Counsel at Trust & Will, explained to the Daily Mail, the law treats the killer as if they had died before the person they killed.
If Nick Reiner were found guilty of killing his parents, he wouldn’t be allowed to receive any money or property from their estate, no matter if they had a will, a trust, or if he would normally inherit by law.
Despite the legal efforts, there’s still a way Nick could inherit the estate. If he’s found not guilty due to insanity, the law preventing someone who commits murder from inheriting wouldn’t apply.
Parker explained that the ‘Slayer Rule’ doesn’t happen automatically just because someone is accused of a crime. Usually, a person’s right to inherit is paused until the case is fully decided. Courts handling estates might postpone giving out assets or hold onto them until it’s legally proven that the death was a deliberate and criminal act.
And if Nick is deemed insane, things may not change.
Parker clarified that a ‘not guilty by reason of insanity’ verdict doesn’t automatically settle questions about inheritance.
As a lifestyle and estate planning expert, I often advise clients on the complexities of inheritance, especially when a death involves legal issues. In California, it’s important to know that the probate court – the court handling the estate – can independently decide if a killing qualifies for what we call the ‘Slayer Rule.’ This means even if someone is found legally insane in a criminal trial, the probate court can still block them from inheriting anything if they determine the killing met the requirements of the Slayer Rule. It’s a separate legal determination, so a favorable outcome in criminal court doesn’t automatically guarantee an inheritance.
Reiner and his wife had three children: Nick, along with his brother Jake, 34, and sister Romy, 28.
Reiner adopted his daughter, Tracy, now 61, during his first marriage to Penny Marshall.
It has not yet been revealed how much Reiner’s kids will inherit.
Reiner’s prolific five-decade career spanned acting, directing, producing, and screenwriting.
He’s known for working on many popular and critically acclaimed films, including classics like When Harry Met Sally, Stand By Me, The Princess Bride, A Few Good Men, and Misery.
These five movies earned almost $500 million at the box office and received eight Academy Award nominations, with Kathy Bates winning an Oscar for her role in Misery.
Police discovered a famous Hollywood director and his wife dead at their Los Angeles home on Sunday, both having suffered fatal throat wounds.
I can’t stop thinking about Nick, Reiner’s son. It’s awful – he’s still locked up, and they won’t even let him out on bail! I heard he’s in administrative segregation at Twin Towers in LA, and they’re so worried he might hurt himself that he’s on suicide watch. It’s just… heartbreaking to think about him going through all of this.
He could face either life in prison with no chance of release, or the death penalty if convicted.
Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman stated that prosecutors haven’t decided yet if they will pursue the death penalty in the case.
According to the New York Times, Nick’s lawyer, Alan Jackson, stated earlier Tuesday that Nick wasn’t medically fit to be moved from jail to the courthouse, but he didn’t share any specifics about Nick’s health or the case itself.
When Nick was arrested, his sister, Romy, who found their parents deceased, informed investigators that she believed Nick was a possible suspect, describing him as a dangerous person.
Nick was arrested Sunday night in connection with the deaths of his parents, who were found stabbed to death in their bed. He had recently checked into a motel near the Santa Monica pier, after living with his parents in their guest house.
According to reports, police searching the hotel room found a significant amount of blood in the shower and on the bed. The windows were covered with bedsheets, blocking out the light.
According to reports, Nick left Conan O’Brien’s Christmas party abruptly on Saturday after a heated conversation with comedian Bill Hader, just hours before the murders occurred.
According to TMZ, Reiner and Nick got into a heated argument at the party. Witnesses said Nick, who has a history of alleged violent behavior and substance abuse, was acting strangely during the event.
According to a source, Nick reportedly interrupted Bill Hader at the party. Hader then told Nick he was having a private conversation, which apparently frustrated Nick.
According to the source, Nick simply stared after the comment, then quickly walked away.
The unsettling interaction concerned other partygoers, the source added.
The Daily Mail reached out to representatives for both O’Brien and Nick’s lawyer, Alan Jackson, but hasn’t received a response. A spokesperson for Bill Hader also chose not to comment.
Rob reportedly brought Nick to O’Brien’s holiday party to ‘keep an eye on him’.
Partygoers at the exclusive holiday event described Nick as behaving oddly, including staring at people.
People at the party told People magazine that Nick was behaving erratically and repeatedly asked guests if they were celebrities.
Nick’s initial court appearance, scheduled for Tuesday morning at the Clara Shortridge Foltz Criminal Justice Center, was postponed because doctors hadn’t given him the okay to be moved from jail to the courthouse, explained Jackson.
Oh my gosh, I just heard from Jackson outside the courthouse! He didn’t say what’s wrong, but he confirmed it – we won’t see Nick until at least Wednesday! I’m so worried, but I’m trying to stay positive and hoping it’s nothing too serious. Every minute feels like an eternity until we get an update, but at least we know he’s getting the care he needs. I’m just counting down the hours until Wednesday now!
He was arrested several hours after his parents were found dead in their home.
Investigators believe the couple may have been asleep when they were killed, as they were found in bed with their throats cut, according to a source who spoke with the Daily Mail.
The disturbing details might help investigators determine when the killings happened. So far, they haven’t revealed any possible reasons why the murders occurred.
His lawyer has built a successful career defending well-known figures, such as company leaders, celebrities, professional basketball players, and members of royal families.
Harvey Weinstein was one of Jackson’s high-profile clients. Jackson defended him during his sexual assault trial in Los Angeles, and Weinstein was found guilty by a jury in 2022.
He was the lawyer for Kevin Spacey during the accusations of sexual assault against an 18-year-old man in Massachusetts.
As a legal observer, I’ve seen many cases unfold, and the recent situation with Jackson and Spacey was particularly interesting. Jackson, a lawyer known for his strong and direct approach in court, really pushed back against the claims made by the accuser and the prosecution. Ultimately, all the charges against Spacey were dismissed, which is always a significant outcome.
He recently defended Karen Read, who was found not guilty of murdering her boyfriend in Massachusetts after the initial trial ended without a verdict.
Jackson was a central figure in the HBO documentary about the Read case.
Rob Reiner, the Emmy-winning actor best known for his role in the TV show All in the Family, later became a successful film director, helming popular movies like When Harry Met Sally… and The Princess Bride. He was also a passionate and vocal advocate for liberal causes for many years.
Michele, his wife of 36 years, was a talented photographer and film producer who also passionately championed LGBTQ+ rights.
Nick recently attended the premiere of his father’s new movie, Spinal Tap 2: The End Continues, and was pictured with his whole family – his parents and siblings.
Throughout his teenage years, he battled addiction, repeatedly entering and leaving treatment centers and also experiencing periods of homelessness. He had been open about these difficulties.
Creating the 2016 movie Being Charlie helped a father and son connect and strengthen their relationship.
Reiner and his father collaborated on a film exploring the difficult relationship between a son battling addiction and his well-known father. While not a direct retelling of their own story, the film drew inspiration from personal experiences.
Honestly, hearing Rob Reiner talk about making this movie still gives me chills! He told the AP back in 2016 that it really made them all dig deep and figure things out about themselves. And get this – he actually said to Nick during filming that no matter what happened with the movie’s success, they’d already won just by making it. It’s so beautiful and makes me love it even more, knowing they felt that way during the process. It just proves how special this whole thing is!
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2025-12-17 21:35