Kelly Rutherford Reunites With Her 2 Kids in New York City Amid Ongoing Custody Battle

Actress enjoys a special Fourth of July with her beloved children

By Mike Vulpo Jul 04, 2015 10:29 PMTags
Kelly RutherfordMichael Loccisano/Getty Images

This Fourth of July is turning out to be extra special for Kelly Rutherford.

The Gossip Girl actress received quite the gift when she was reunited with her children in New York City Friday afternoon.

Rutherford was photographed with her son Hermes, 8, and daughter Helena, 6, outside an apartment building. She was joined by her reported boyfriend Tony Brand who serves as an assistant manager for Gucci. The proud mom also had a belated birthday celebration in honor of her daughter.

The reunion comes almost six-years after the actress first began her battle in court over the custody of her two children.

Belated birthday celebration! ??????????

A photo posted by @kellyrutherford on

Just last month, a judge ordered that the 46-year-old's kids be flown to the United States to spend the summer with their mother. The ruling was made in a Monaco court where Rutherford and her ex-husband Daniel Giersch were both present for the hearing.

The children had been living in Europe with Giersch who Rutherford divorced in 2010. The former couple previously shared custody of their children, but since Giersch's visa was revoked, the TV star has been forced to fly to France to see her kids (a California court previously ruled that the children must live abroad in order to uphold the joint custody agreement).

The case earned headlines across the country and Rutherford even received support from fellow Hollywood moms including Kris Jenner, Melanie Griffith and Kim Kardashian.

"I am pleased with the outcome and that the children will be coming to the US for a part of their summer vacation," Rutherford said in a statement to People shortly after last month's ruling. "I am reassured by the Monaco process and the judge. Although I still maintain my legal objections about Monaco hearing the case, my serenity is restored."