Actress Kelly Rutherford Granted Custody Of Her Children

“Gossip Girl” actress Kelly Rutherford has been granted temporary sole legal and physical custody of her two children after a six-year legal battle with her ex-husband.

The decision came Friday after a Los Angeles judge decided that the children should be brought back to the United States from Monaco, where they have been living with their father, Daniel Giersch.

“We are ecstatic, and hopeful that Monaco will respect the California court’s ruling and send the children home,” Rutherford’s attorney, Wendy Murphy, told People Magazine.

“Monaco officials know that sending the children back to America is the right thing to do. I’m looking forward to the happy reunion of the children not only with their mother, but also with their country!”

Two weeks earlier, an online petition started by Rutherford to have the White House look over her situation reached over 100,000 signatures, after being promoted by celebrities like co-star Ed Westwick and Kim Kardashian.

Rutherford tweeted out early Tuesday morning, thanking everyone who has helped her.

“So thankful for all of your support! It means so much to me!”

So thankful for all of your support! It means so much to me! ❤️

— Kelly Rutherford (@KellyRutherford) May 26, 2015

Rutherford’s children, eight-year-old Hermes and five-year-old Helena, have been living with Giersch since 2012 in accordance with a ruling by a California judge, despite Rutherford and Giersch’s joint custody. The judge ruled in favour of Giersch as he is unable to enter the U.S due to a revoked visa and would have been unable to visit his children if they lived with Rutherford. Rutherford has been flying to France frequently to visit her children since the decision.

Only a day prior to the decision, Rutherford, 46, went to visit her children only to be denied by Giersch unless she turned over the children’s U.S passports to someone on Giersch’s legal team.

Rutherford filed for divorce in late 2008 before the birth of her and Giersch’s daughter.

Another hearing in the case is set for June 15 at a Los Angeles Superior Court.