Denise Richards 'has been parenting troubled Brooke Mueller's twin boys Bob and Max for over a year'

Denise Richards has been raising Brooke Mueller's children for over a year.

The 42-year-old actress was granted temporary legal guardian for her ex-husband Charlie Sheen and Brooke's twin sons, Bob and Max, when child protective services removed them from the socialite's home last month.

However, it has now emerged that Denise - who has two daughters, Lola, eight, and Sam, nine, with Charlie - has actually spent far more time with the four-year-old boys than Brooke herself over the last nine months, due to her struggles with drug addiction.

Motherly figure: Denise Richards has reportedly been raising Brooke Mueller's twin sons, Max and Bob (pictured) for over a year

A source told RadarOnline.com: 'Initially, Brooke willingly placed the boys in Denise's care because she was going in and out of rehab, and using drugs.

'Child protective services has now asked Denise to give specific dates that she had been taking care of the twins, in advance of a big custody hearing in July.

'The boys have spent more time with Denise than with their own biological mother for the last nine months. The boys are a part of Denise's family, and they are extremely happy in her care.'

Denise also has an adopted daughter, 23-month-old Eloise.

The way they were: Brooke Mueller and Charlie Sheen, right, had the twins together

Brooke is said to be worried she is going to lose the $55,000-a-month child support fees she receives from Anger Management star Charlie.

The insider added: 'Brooke doesn't have any money saved and lives month-to-month on the child support. There is no way Brooke is going to get custody back of the twins any time soon.'

The case is set to go to court in July, where social workers are allegedly going to say Brooke should only be granted supervised visitation after leaving rehab as well as being forced to undertake weekly random drug tests.

Not fit to be a mother? Brooke has been in and out of rehab for years

Brooke checked in to the Betty Ford Clinic in California last month for her 21st rehab stint but left the facility recently because she was unhappy at being asked to do chores and it was 'too hard.'
A source told RadarOnline: “Brooke didn’t tell anyone, including her lawyer, that she had left Betty Ford.
'Brooke hated Betty Ford because she was required to do daily chores, which she resented. She complained that Betty Ford was just too hard. Betty Ford is hardcore and Brooke just doesn’t respond well in situations where she can’t call the shots.'

Juggler: Denise already has three kids of her own, Eloise (in her arms), Sam Sheen (second right), Lola Rose Sheen (far left)

However, Brooke's decision to leave rehab could also affect the state of her children.
The insider added: “This could have a serious impact on Brooke’s bid to get custody of the twins. Brooke just doesn’t seem to be taking get sober that seriously.
'Her doctors at Betty Ford advised her not to leave, but she did anyway. Her therapists will be submitting an extensive report about Brooke’s time at Betty Ford and it won’t be glowing, that is for sure.'