How the “Killer Rule” Could Determine Who Inherits Rob and Michele Reiner’s Fortune

With one of the couple’s children being the main suspect in the crime, it is likely that Nick Reiner will be prevented from inheriting his parents’ fortune.

The stabbing murders of the director and actor Rob Reiner and his wife, the photographer and producer Michele Singer Reinercaused widespread mourning.

This tragedy, discovered on December 14, 2025, is also increasing public interest in what happens when killers can inherit assets from their victims. This is because Nick Reinerthe couple’s son, was accused of two qualified homicides four days after the deaths at his home in Los Angeles.

What is the “assassin rule”?

All American states have some form of killer rule that prevents killers from inheriting from their victims. Although the rules vary slightly from state to state, they always prevent murderers from profiting from their own crimes.

Simply put, if you are found guilty of killing someone or plead guilty to their murder, You will not be able to inherit any of the victim’s assets.

In some states, this can go beyond inheritance and apply to jointly owned property, insurance policies, and other types of accounts.

Most of these manslaughter rules, including those in California, apply only to “criminal and intentional” homicides, meaning they do not apply if a person accidentally kills someone. Although a guilty verdict by a judge or jury, nor a guilty plea by the defendant, is not necessary, there must be some finding by a criminal or civil court of willful and intentional homicide.

These rules, known as the intentional homicide rules, have a long history in the United States. They came to prominence after an 1889 homicide case in New York state, in which a 16 year old poisoned his grandfather to obtain an inheritance that was stated in the will.

How often are the rules on intentional homicide invoked?

It’s hard to say for sure. As far as we know, no one has attempted to keep a record.

The rules on intentional homicide come into force whenever someone who would otherwise inherit assets from an estate is convicted or found guilty of murder, and the perpetrator of the murder is entitled to the victim’s inheritance.

These tragic cases almost always involve murders committed by family members. Many of the high-profile cases are linked to murders in California.

Among the famous disinherited killers are Lyle and Erik Menendez, the Californians known as the Menendez brothers. In 1996, a jury found them guilty of the first-degree murder of their parents, José and Mary Louise “Kitty” Menendez. The parents of the Menendez brothers, who were killed in 1989, had a fortune that today would be worth more than 35 million dollars.

The brothers, who became eligible for parolebut saw their request denied in 2025, they have been in prison since then.

Once the crime of intentional homicide has been established, even if the murderer is later released on parole – or even if he does not serve a prison sentence –, he will still inherit nothing.

In practice, this means that even if one or both of the Menendez brothers were granted parole in the future, they would still not be entitled to inherit any of their parents’ assets upon release.

California’s killer rule also prevented salesman Scott Peterson, convicted of killing his pregnant wife, Laci Peterson, in 2002, from receiving money he was entitled to from her life insurance.

Peterson has been imprisoned since 2005.

What can prevent its application?

In the absence of a murder conviction, the murderer rule may not apply. For example, a conviction for a less serious crime, such as negligent homicide, may allow the defendant – or their lawyers – to argue that the death was accidental.

This exception could be relevant to the Reiner homicide case, if Nick Reiner’s defense is able to demonstrate that the substance abuse or schizophrenia made him unaccountable when he allegedly killed his parents in their Los Angeles home.

On the other hand, under California law, even if there is no conviction, the probate court responsible for administering the victim’s estate may still separately determine that the homicide was intentional and criminal. This civil ruling would prevent the killer from inheriting without a criminal conviction.

Does this only apply to families with large fortunes?

The rules regarding assassins apply to anyone that kills one or more family members, regardless of whether the victims are rich, poor or middle class.

When large amounts of money are at stake, cases tend to attract more attention due to media coverage during the criminal trial and subsequent inheritance disputes.

Who will inherit Rob Reiner and Michele Singer Reiner’s fortune?

It is still early for the public and the family to know who will ultimately inherit the Reiner fortune.

Wills are generally public documents, although the Reiners may have used other types of estate planning, such as trusts, which typically do not become public. And celebrities with valuable intellectual property rights, such as the royalties from the Reiners’ many films and television shows, tend to set up trust funds.

Assuming that, like many parents, the Reiners left most of their fortune – which was reportedly worth around 200 million dollars – to your children, including Nick, then California homicide law may apply. The couple had two other children together, Romy and Jake.

Rob Reiner also had another daughter, Tracy Reiner, who he adopted after his marriage to his first wife, actress and filmmaker Penny Marshall.

It is also likely that the Reiners included charitable bequests in their estate plans. They were strong supporters of many causes, including early childhood development.

Does the killer rule apply to Nick Reiner?

It’s too early to know.

It is important to note that the wills and other estate planning documents of Rob Reiner and Michele Singer Reiner have not yet been released. This means that what Nick Reiner might inherit if the killer rule proves irrelevant in this case is unknown.

Furthermore, with the investigation into the couple’s deaths still ongoing, no one can assume Nick’s innocence or guilt.

And in mid-December 2025, an anonymous source informed entertainment reporters that Nick Reiner’s legal expenses were being paid by the Reiner family.