Can You Inherit if You Are Accused of Murder? The Rob Reiner Case Explained

When news broke that filmmaker Rob Reiner and his wife, Michele Singer Reiner, were found dead—and that their son, Nick Reiner, was arrested in connection with the double homicide—many people immediately asked a difficult question: what happens to an estate when an heir is accused of killing the people they would otherwise inherit from?

The answer lies in two areas of probate law most families never think about until tragedy strikes: slayer statutes and simultaneous death rules. While the Reiner estate will ultimately be governed by California law, the same legal principles apply here in Nebraska. This article uses the Reiner case as a real-world lens to explain how Nebraska courts handle inheritance when there are allegations of homicide, unclear timelines of death, or competing heirs. If you are dealing with estate planning, probate administration, or a contested inheritance, these rules matter more than most people realize.

Why the Rob Reiner Case Has Put Slayer Statutes in the Spotlight

High-profile cases have a way of pulling quiet areas of law into public view. The arrest of Nick Reiner in connection with the deaths of Rob Reiner and Michele Singer Reiner immediately raised questions about who can inherit, who can serve as executor, and whether estate assets can be frozen before a criminal case is resolved.

Probate law does not wait passively for criminal proceedings to finish. Long before a verdict is reached, courts have tools designed to prevent someone from financially benefiting from a killing. Those tools are known as slayer statutes, and they apply regardless of fame, wealth, or public attention.

What Is a Slayer Statute, in Plain English?

A slayer statute creates a legal rule that if a person feloniously and intentionally kills someone, the law treats that person as if they died before the victim for inheritance purposes. This legal fiction removes the killer from the line of succession entirely.

In practical terms, slayer statutes prevent an accused killer from inheriting through wills, trusts, intestacy, joint tenancy with right of survivorship, life insurance, retirement accounts, and other beneficiary-designated assets.

Nebraska’s slayer statute is found at Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-2354, which mirrors the Uniform Probate Code. It bars a person who feloniously and intentionally kills the decedent from receiving property, serving as a personal representative, or benefiting indirectly through non-probate transfers.

Does an Arrest Automatically Disinherit an Heir?

No. An arrest alone does not automatically strip someone of inheritance rights. Slayer statutes require proof that the killing was both intentional and unlawful.

That said, this is where probate law often surprises people. A criminal conviction is not always required for a slayer statute to apply. Criminal courts operate under the “beyond a reasonable doubt” standard. Probate courts, by contrast, are civil courts and typically apply the lower “preponderance of the evidence” standard.

In other words, an heir could avoid a criminal conviction yet still be barred from inheriting if a probate judge finds it more likely than not that the killing was felonious and intentional. This distinction explains why inheritance disputes can move forward even while criminal cases are pending or unresolved.

Double Homicide and Joint Property: Who Died First?

The Reiner case involves the deaths of both Rob Reiner and Michele Singer Reiner. That fact introduces a second layer of estate law that often matters just as much as slayer statutes: simultaneous death.

When spouses die close in time, the order of death can determine where assets ultimately go. Many estate plans leave property to a spouse first, then to children. If one spouse survives the other—even briefly—assets may pass through two estates instead of one.

Nebraska addresses this problem through the Uniform Simultaneous Death Act, codified at Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-2304. This statute is commonly referred to as the 120-hour rule. If it cannot be proven that one person survived the other by at least 120 hours, the law treats each spouse as having predeceased the other for inheritance purposes.

In a case like Reiner’s, this rule matters because it determines whether Rob and Michele inherited from each other before their estates passed to their children. If survivorship cannot be established, each estate is distributed independently to its own beneficiaries, subject to any slayer statute disqualifications.

How Slayer Statutes and the 120-Hour Rule Work Together

These two doctrines often operate together. Courts typically analyze the slayer statute first to determine whether an heir is disqualified due to wrongdoing. If the order of death between spouses is unclear, the simultaneous death statute then controls how property is allocated.

This layered analysis is common in double homicide cases and underscores why estate administration in these situations is rarely straightforward.

What Happens to Jointly Owned Property?

Under normal circumstances, property held as joint tenants with right of survivorship passes automatically to the surviving owner. Slayer statutes disrupt that outcome.

Under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-2354, a killing severs the right of survivorship. The killer retains their original ownership interest but cannot inherit the victim’s share. The victim’s portion passes through their estate to other heirs or beneficiaries.

This rule prevents someone from acquiring full ownership of property through an act of violence while still respecting pre-existing property rights.

The Nebraska Perspective: Why This Matters Locally

Although the Reiner case is unfolding in California, Nebraska families encounter these legal issues more often than most people expect. Nebraska’s probate code squarely addresses both slayer situations and simultaneous death through § 30-2354 and § 30-2304, and courts apply these statutes with real financial consequences.

For Nebraska clients, the takeaway is not celebrity intrigue. It is that estate planning is about more than naming beneficiaries. A well-drafted estate plan anticipates contingencies by including alternate beneficiaries, survivorship requirements, and backup fiduciaries. These provisions give courts clear guidance even in the most tragic and unexpected circumstances.

Frequently Asked Questions About Slayer Statutes and Inheritance

Will Nick Reiner automatically lose his inheritance because of the arrest?

No. A court must determine whether the killing was felonious and intentional. If proven through a criminal conviction or a civil probate finding, the slayer statute would bar inheritance.

Can probate courts act before a criminal case is finished?

Yes. Probate courts may apply slayer statutes using civil standards of proof without waiting for a final criminal verdict.

What happens to life insurance if the beneficiary is accused of killing the insured?

The beneficiary is typically treated as having predeceased the insured, and the proceeds are redirected to contingent beneficiaries or the estate.

Can a will override Nebraska’s slayer statute?

Generally no. Public policy prevents enforcement of provisions that allow a killer to profit from wrongdoing.

Why does the 120-hour rule matter in cases like this?

It determines whether spouses inherit from each other when they die close in time. If survivorship cannot be proven, each estate is distributed independently.

Final Takeaway

The Rob Reiner case is a stark reminder that estate law does not pause for criminal investigations or public attention. Slayer statutes and simultaneous death laws exist to prevent unjust outcomes, but they require careful legal analysis and early action.

Whether you are planning an estate, administering one, or facing a contested inheritance involving allegations of wrongdoing, understanding these rules—and working with experienced counsel—can make a decisive difference.