Full Breakdown
Utah Judge Issues Mutual Protective Orders for Reality Star Taylor Frankie Paul and Ex-Partner Dakota Mortensen
5/1/2026, 7:06:45 PM
Mutual Protective Orders Enforced
On April 30 2026, District Court Commissioner Russell Minas ordered Taylor Frankie Paul and Dakota Mortensen to stay at least 100 feet apart for three years. The orders were issued while assessing custody of their 2-year-old son, Ever.
Background and Timeline
Police investigations began in February 2024 after each party alleged violence. The dispute originates from a February 2023 video of Paul throwing chairs at Mortensen, prompting ABC to cancel *The Bachelorette* and Hulu to pause *Mormon Wives*. A temporary order on April 7 2026 gave Mortensen primary custody and limited Paul to supervised visitation; mutual orders followed on April 30 2026. A custody recommendation is due May 11, with a review hearing set for June 1.
Key Data
The filings cite eleven distinct fights. The protective orders last three years and enforce a 100-foot separation. Under the temporary arrangement, Mortensen has primary care of Ever, while Paul may have up to eight hours per week of supervised visitation.
Why It Matters
The orders halted ABC’s *Bachelorette* and forced Hulu to resume *Mormon Wives* without the couple. Minas warned that continued proximity “could affect Ever when he grows up,” emphasizing the child-welfare motive.
Official Statements & Responses
Commissioner Minas called the relationship “very toxic” and warned that “if I don’t order both of them to stay away… there will be problems.” Paul’s attorney Eric Swinyard noted Paul’s admission of fault and said the orders are needed to end the cycle. Mortensen’s lawyer Brent Salazar-Hall framed the order as a protective step, asserting Paul’s request “is not designed to protect her son; it’s designed to protect her image.” The district attorney’s office declined to file new charges, citing insufficient evidence and statute-of-limitations constraints.
Criticism & Opposition
Mortensen’s friend Cru Eaton called the court’s decision “a joke and pathetic,” questioning Paul’s suitability as a parent. Mortensen’s attorney also suggested Paul’s protective order aims to “destroy” his reputation rather than protect the child.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
The city prosecutor found neither party’s account credible, yet both sides presented photos of alleged injuries. Police reports note a lack of corroborating evidence, while the district attorney cited “evidentiary issues” and statute-of-limitations barriers. Both attorneys claim the other leaked the 2023 video, a dispute unresolved in court.
Verbatim Quotes
- “the two of them can't be together in the same place at the same time for very long before it starts to turn violent.” — Russell Minas
- “You’ve got to put your child first and shield the child from this conflict.” — Russell Minas
- “He wants to literally destroy her.” — Eric Swinyard
- “not designed to protect her son; it’s designed to protect her image.” — Brent Salazar-Hall
What’s Next
Commissioner Minas will issue a written recommendation on parenting time by May 11, after a Department of Child and Family Services assessment. The parties will return for a review hearing on June 1, where the court may adjust supervised visitation or modify custody based on the report.