Gossip Girl star Kelly Rutherford has filed for bankruptcy following an extended divorce and custody battle.
According to ABCNews.com, the actress has filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy, citing assets of only $23,937 compared to over $2 million of debt. Approximately $1.5 million of the debt was wracked up during an extended divorce and custody dispute with ex-husband Daniel Giersch.
The actress has asked the family courts to order Giersch to contribute to her legal fees, TMZ reports.
The ex-couple married in 2006 but split acrimoniously in 2009 while she was pregnant with their second child. Giersch’s US visa was then revoked, preventing him from entering the country. Last summer a US judge awarded custody of the two children, both born in the US, to their father, who now lives in Monaco.
Rutherford appealed the ruling and had made multiple trips to Europe to see the children.
Earlier this year, the actress admitted to E! News that she had:
“…spent every penny. Every penny from Gossip Girl, my pension, my stocks has been spent fighting for my children.”
Rutherford appeared as Lily van der Woodsen in the popular teenage drama series Gossip Girl throughout its six season run.
