Los Angeles, Sep 19 (IANS): Actor Charlie Sheen no longer has to pay his ex-wife Brooke Mueller $55,000 per month for child support. Following an out-of-court settlement, it has been decided that he will only pay almost half the amount.

Their twins - four-year-old twins Bob and Max, are staying with Sheen's former wife Denise Richards.

"A deal was made out of court between Charlie and Brooke’s lawyers, which involved a mediator. The new child support payment is $25,000 a month, since the twins, Bob and Max, aren’t living with Brooke.

"If the judge in child dependency court gives the boys back to Brooke, Charlie will immediately begin paying her the full $55,000 a month," a source told radaronline.com.

"Needless to say, Brooke isn’t happy that the child support payment was slashed, but knew if it went to court, she would likely receive no money. She is desperate to get the boys back as quickly as possible so she can resume getting her hefty child support checks," added the source.

The twins were taken from Mueller in May when she was placed on an involuntary psychiatric hold after overdosing on drugs.

A judge here granted Richards the temporary guardianship of the children.

"Charlie could have gone to the family court and asked the judge to rule that he shouldn’t have to pay Brooke a dime because the boys aren’t living with her.

"However, Charlie didn’t want to kick Brooke when she was down. He is a generous guy, probably to a fault. Brooke is the mother to his children, and he really hopes she turns it around, this time for good," the source said.