Kelly Rutherford Bankrupt: 'Gossip Girl' Star's Trouble with Money After Costly Divorce and Custody Battle with Ex-Husband Daniel Giersch

Kelly Rutherford has filed for bankruptcy after a costly divorce and further legal costs around her custody battle for her two children have piled up to about $2 million. The 44-year-old actress divorced her ex-husband, German businessman Daniel Giersch, back in 2009 and has literally been paying for it ever since. Though the star used to earn almost $500,000 a month while working on CW's hit series "Gossip Girl," the actress now reportedly makes about $1,300 per month.

According to Rutherford, she has "spent every penny. Every penny from 'Gossip Girl,' my pension, my stocks has been spent fighting for my children.'"

While pregnant with her second child, daughter Helena, Rutherford filed for divorce from Giersch in 2009. The German businessman was controversially awarded custody of the children, including son Hermes, and they reportedly live with him in Monaco. Clearly, visiting her children has also put a huge strain on Rutherford's money.

"Having to peel my son off my body, screaming, 'Mama, save me!' when I had to give him to his father-not because he doesn't love his dad, but because he's too young and it was like a forced thing," Rutherford recently said. She described visiting her children and then returning home without them to "being in a park full of laughing happy children, and then the next day you walk by the park and it's empty."

According to E! NEWS, the actress has taken about 40 trips to Monaco to see her kids.

Rutherford has also reportedly been staying with and taking thousands of dollars in loans from friends in New York City. Rutherford also reportedly owes more than $35,000 for 2012 income taxes and about $25,000 in Amex charges.