Actress awarded temporary custody of 2 kids

Actress Kelly Rutherford has forged one step ahead in her ongoing custody battle with her ex-husband, Daniel Giersch. The two have been in the middle of a highly-publicized custody dispute involving their two children since the actress first filed for divorce in 2009. At the time, the couple already had a son, and she was three months along with the couple's daughter.

The children, now 8 and 5, have been living with their father, a German citizen whose U.S. visa was revoked, since 2012 when the courts awarded the father custody. The three been living in Monaco since then, with Rutherford making trips to see the children for visitation. However, Rutherford told the media that the last time she traveled overseas to see her children, she was denied visitation because she refused to turn over the children's passports to someone Giersch claimed was a "neutral person." According to reports, there were concerns that the children would be "kidnapping targets."

Rutherford ended up filing an emergency petition with the courts. The judge agreed that the children needed to be returned to their mother and the United States.Rutherford was awarded sole physical and legal custody of the children. The order is temporary pending the next hearing, but the judge did order that the children's father must return them to their mother in the United States in the meantime.

In these types of situations, it can be difficult to get the courts in another country to enforce the U.S. court's decision. Having a family law attorney who is confident in dealing with international custody issues and understands the steps is critical.

Source: Philly.com, "Kelly Rutherford wins sole custody of kids after three-year battle with ex," May. 25, 2015