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Custody battle leaves 'Gossip Girl' star Kelly Rutherford broke

“Gossip Girl” star Kelly Rutherford, who earned $468,000 a month while working on the CW show, has filed for bankruptcy after spending $1.66 million on her custody battle with her ex-husband, according to documents obtained Monday by NBC News.The 44-year-old year actress and mother of two filed Chapter 7 in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in California on May 20 declaring to be over $2 million debt -- a
Kelly Rutherford in New York City in 2012.
Actress Kelly Rutherford celebrates Michael Kalish's Belle Epoque Sculpture in New York City in 2012.Dimitrios Kambouris / Today

“Gossip Girl” star Kelly Rutherford, who earned $468,000 a month while working on the CW show, has filed for bankruptcy after spending $1.66 million on her custody battle with her ex-husband, according to documents obtained Monday by NBC News.

The 44-year-old year actress and mother of two filed Chapter 7 in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in California on May 20 declaring to be over $2 million debt -- and with a current monthly income of $1,279.33.

Rutherford divorced Daniel Giersch in 2010. In August, a Los Angeles Superior Court judge ruled that Rutherford’s daughter and son must live with their father in France after his visa was revoked. Rutherford and Giersch are supposed to split their time with the children equally, even though they live in different countries. They are 6 and 4 years old now.

"I do think the kids are at risk because I was the primary, and now I'm the visitor," Rutherford said in an emotional interview on TODAY last year. "What I was in court trying to get to the bottom of is that he could disappear tomorrow and I don't know where to look."

Rutherford has been traveling to France regularly to see her children and Skypes with them daily.

According to the bankruptcy petition, Rutherford has $23,937 in assets -- $11,487 in her checking account, $5,000 in furniture, $5,000 in clothes, and $1,500 in jewelry. The documents also show Rutherford owes over $350,000 in last year’s federal and New York state income taxes and over $300,000 to friends and family for personal loans.

She also owes American Express $25,000 and Citibank nearly $36,000.

“Gossip Girl” wrapped last year. Rutherford also starred on “Melrose Place” in the ‘90s.