The reality TV world is buzzing once again over Taylor Frankie Paul. The star of Hulu’s The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives is locked in a high-stakes custody and protective order dispute with her ex-boyfriend Dakota Mortensen, the father of their two-year-old son, Ever.
Mutual accusations of domestic violence have turned the case into a public spectacle, with both parties securing extended restraining orders this week.
Paul, 31, rose to fame on the hit series chronicling the unconventional lives of Mormon influencers.
Her high-profile split from ex-husband Tate Paul and subsequent relationship with Mortensen have kept her in headlines.
The latest chapter, however, involves dueling court filings that could reshape custody of their young child.
In March 2026, Mortensen filed for a temporary protective order against Paul, alleging multiple incidents of abuse.
A Utah court granted his request and awarded him temporary sole custody of Ever, temporarily barring Paul from unsupervised contact with her son.
Paul swiftly filed her own protective order petition just hours before an April 7 hearing. She accused Mortensen of domestic violence as well.
The court granted her a temporary order requiring him to stay 100 yards away, while allowing her limited supervised parenting time.
During the April 7 hearing, Commissioner Russell Minas ordered Paul up to eight hours of supervised visitation per week with Ever.
Mortensen retained temporary custody pending further review. Both sides presented evidence of past altercations, including a widely circulated 2023 video of a physical confrontation.
The case reached a critical point on April 30, 2026.
Attorneys for Paul and Mortensen presented competing arguments in Salt Lake City’s Third District Court.
The hearing focused on whether to make the temporary protective orders permanent and how to resolve ongoing custody issues.
After reviewing the evidence, the judge extended mutual protective orders for three years. Both Paul and Mortensen must now stay at least 100 feet apart.
The commissioner explicitly noted “violence both ways” in the relationship, underscoring the contentious nature of their claims.
Custody arrangements remain unresolved for now.
The current supervised visitation schedule for Paul stays in effect while the parties pursue mediation.
A final recommendation on parent time is expected by early June, with the court prioritizing the child’s best interests.
The clash has reignited discussions about Paul’s past.
She previously pleaded guilty to aggravated assault in a separate 2023 incident and saw her planned season of The Bachelorette canceled amid similar allegations.
Mortensen has also faced scrutiny over the couple’s turbulent history.
Fans of The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives have flooded social media with reactions. Some express concern for Ever’s well-being, while others debate the credibility of both parties’ accounts.
The drama has trended heavily in reality TV circles, drawing parallels to other high-profile celebrity custody battles.
As the legal proceedings continue, Paul has publicly thanked supporters for their encouragement during the difficult process.
The extended mutual restraining orders mark a temporary truce in their ongoing war, but the fight for custody of Ever is far from over. The case highlights the intense personal toll reality television fame can exact behind the cameras.