FLORIDA school shooter Nikolas Cruz wants to donate his inheritance — which could run to hundreds of thousands of dollars or more — to the bereaved families and survivors of his attack, his lawyers have said.

Cruz walked into Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in the south Florida city of Parkland on February 14 and opened fire at students and staff with an AR-15-style semiautomatic weapon.

He stands accused of 17 counts of premeditated murder and 17 counts of attempted murder. Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty.

At a court hearing on Wednesday, Broward County Judge Elizabeth Scherer sought to determine whether Cruz — who has so far been represented by public defenders — is able to pay for his own defence.

His lawyers said they have not yet been able to determine the value of the inheritance left to him following the death of his mother Lynda Cruz last November. However local reports quoting the family who took him in following his mother’s death have said he could have a trust fund worth US$800,000 (A$1.03 million).

But his legal team suggested any wealth that may be discovered should go to Cruz’s victims rather than expensive lawyers.

“Mr. Cruz does not want those funds, whatever money that he is entitled to,” said lawyer Melissa McNeill.

“He does not want that money. He would like that money donated to an organisation that the victims’ family believes would be able to facilitate healing in our community or an opportunity to educate our community about the issues that have ripened over the last four or five months,” she added.

Cruz — who was present for the hearing in Fort Lauderdale, which is near Parkland — stared blankly at the floor, his hands and feet cuffed.

“Let it go to those who have been hurt, period,” another member of his legal team, Howard Finkelstein, asked the judge.

Cruz’s wealth currently consists of 24 Microsoft stocks worth about US$2,200 (A$2831) from which he receives dividends, and he is entitled to US$25,000 (A$32,178) from his mother’s life insurance, which he has not yet obtained.

In addition, his mother, who died from a respiratory illness, received an annuity of US$3,333 (A$4289) in September to an account she shared with Nikolas. The source of these funds have not been revealed.

But his lawyers have yet to determine whether the instalments are paid monthly or yearly and whether Cruz is entitled to it.

If it is monthly, the defendant could have access to “a million dollars,” Finkelstein said.

But if it is annual, the amount would be insignificant for what “in this moment right now is the highest profile case of America” with costs expected to run into hundreds of thousands dollars, according to his lawyers, excluding civil suits.

Judge Scherer said she would decide on the matter of Cruz’s indigence before April 27, when a hearing is scheduled to set the trial’s schedule.

Cruz had told the couple who took him in following his mother’s death he would inherit at least US$800,000 from his parents, with most of the funds becoming available when he turned 22, according to local press.

The inheritance has not yet been executed, however, and it is unclear what Cruz and his brother Zachary really have.

STUDENTS INSPIRE MARCH ON WASHINGTON

Last month huge crowds marched on Washington DC streets and across the United States for the March For Our Lives, led by the galvanising students of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida.

Almost a million people turned out in Washington and more than 800 sister marches across the country and overseas in what was one of the biggest marches in US history.

Marjory Stoneman Douglas high school student Cameron Kasky was one of the first of the Parkland students to address the Washington DC crowd that the revolution had started.

It is a powerful and peaceful one because it is of, for and by the young people of this country,” Cameron said. “Politicians, either represent the people or get out.”