Los Angeles, May 25 (IANS): Actress Kelly Rutherford has won a long custody battle of her two children with her former husband Daniel Giersch.

The 46-year-old was granted temporary sole legal and physical custody of her children Hermes, eight, and six-year-old Helena, reports aceshowbiz.com

A California judge has demanded that the children be brought back to US from Monaco where they have been living with Giersch since 2012. Rutherford is allowed to keep their passports pending further legal proceedings to determine permanent custody.

Rutherford split from Giersch while she was pregnant with Helena. The couple was supposed to share joint custody, but a court ruling in 2012 ordered the children to live with Giersch so that they didn't have to make a long trip to visit their father who couldn't enter US after his visa was revoked.

Rutherford was forced to file for bankruptcy due to her long custody battle with her former spouse.

A petition to gain government attention drew support from celebrities like Kim Kardashian, Kris Jenner, and Rutherford's "Gossip Girl" co-star Ed Westwick earlier this month.