Rob Reiner’s troubled son Nick received’t see a penny of his well-known household’s fortune if he’s convicted of killing his dad and mom – however may nonetheless use a few of their cash for his million-dollar authorized payments, consultants mentioned.
California’s “Slayer Statute” legislation prohibits anybody convicted of “deliberately killing” somebody from receiving any cash from the victims’ property – which in Reiners’ case is estimated to be round $200 million.
However with high-profile lawyer Alan Jackson taking over Nick’s authorized protection, hypothesis shortly grew how the accused killer, who has confronted drug issues and was dwelling in his dad and mom’ visitor home, was paying for the hot-shot lawyer.
Whereas it’s unknown what household property planning the acclaimed film director arrange, attorneys mentioned they’d be shocked if the 78-year-old father of 4 didn’t have a will and trustee arrange contemplating his huge property and age.
His life was reduce brief early Sunday when Nick allegedly stabbed him and mother Michele Singer Reiner to dying inside their Brentwood dwelling.
He’s going through two counts of first-degree homicide.
Los Angeles District Lawyer Nathan Hochman mentioned this week his workplace was contemplating whether or not it will pursue the dying penalty towards the nepo child – although a governor’s moratorium is in place pausing all executions since 2019.
Nick’s capability to cobble collectively funds to pay for a authorized protection might be contingent on his siblings Jake and Romy – or anybody else who’s linked to Rob Reiner’s will or belief, mentioned California property planning lawyer Scott Schomer.
It stays unclear whether or not any property or belief funds are at the moment getting used to pay Nick’s authorized charges, and no courtroom filings reviewed by The Put up element how his protection is being financed at this stage.
Rob Reiner additionally has an adopted daughter from his first marriage, Tracy.
Nick’s older brother Jake and youthful sister Romy or others in line for the inheritance may request a trustee of the property disperse sufficient funds to Nick so he has an sufficient lawyer, Schomer mentioned.
“Form of like a CEO to shareholders, a trustee works for the beneficiaries,” mentioned Schomer, who can be a Loyola Legislation Faculty professor.
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“A trustee is holding the property that belong to the beneficiaries and is making selections about what to do with the cash.”
“Perhaps they need to see their brother defended,” the lawyer added, noting Nick’s psychological well being and drug points.
Nick may additionally get cash if a belief fund was arrange only for him earlier than his dad and mom’ violent deaths – however once more he would possible want his siblings or others linked to the property to approve it, Schomer mentioned.
Doling out funds to Nick even from his personal belief might be a legal responsibility to the trustee, he added, as a result of if he’s discovered responsible of homicide, he wasn’t entitled to that cash.
California lawyer Neama Rahmani additionally mentioned Nick may use funds from a private belief if he has one, however cautioned the trustee may cease present funds “as a result of the funds now not additional the needs of the belief,” probably opening up a authorized battle between that trustee and Nick.
Schomer speculated Nick may even have his personal cash stashed away to pay for his authorized staff or Jackson might be taking the case on free of charge in return for the mountains of publicity.
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Finally, if Reiner is discovered responsible, he wouldn’t get any funds from his dad and mom’ property below state legislation, Rahmani, of West Coast Trial Attorneys, mentioned.
“You kill your dad and mom, the legislation presumes you predecease them,” he mentioned.
Even when Reiner is discovered not responsible — as an illustration, by motive of madness — there might be a authorized struggle in civil courtroom to cease him from accumulating cash from the Reiners’ property.
“The fundamental thought is that somebody shouldn’t revenue from such a heinous and horrible act,” Schomer mentioned.
“You shouldn’t revenue from murdering somebody.”
Nick was arrested Sunday evening hours after the double-slaying and has since been held behind bars.
He made a short courtroom look Wednesday, however his arraignment when he entered a plea was pushed off till Jan. 7.
