Full Breakdown
Utah Court Orders Mutual Protective Orders for Reality Star Taylor Frankie Paul and Dakota Mortensen Amid Custody Dispute
5/2/2026, 3:06:14 AM
Core Event
Third District Court Commissioner Russell Minas ordered Taylor Frankie Paul and her former partner Dakota Mortensen to remain at least 100 feet (30 m) apart for three years while he continues to evaluate custody arrangements for their 2-year-old son, Ever. The order follows dueling protective-order petitions and a prior April 7 hearing that found “very toxic” dynamics and “violence that occurred both ways” between the parties.
Background & Context
Paul, a star of Hulu’s *The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives* and the slated lead of *The Bachelorette*, has a prior 2023 domestic-violence arrest in which she pleaded guilty to aggravated assault after a video showed her striking Mortensen in front of a child. The leaked footage prompted ABC to cancel her *Bachelorette* season and led Hulu to pause production of *Mormon Wives*. Both Utah police departments (Draper and West Jordan) opened investigations in early 2024, but the Salt Lake County District Attorney’s Office and the Draper City Prosecutor declined to file charges against either party, citing insufficient evidence.
Timeline
- Feb 2023 – Paul arrested after domestic-violence incident; later pleads guilty to aggravated assault.
- Mar 2023 – Video of the 2023 fight leaks, sparking network cancellations.
- Feb 2024 – Police investigations opened in Draper and West Jordan.
- Apr 7 2026 – Initial hearing; Minas grants Mortensen temporary custody and restricts Paul’s unsupervised visits.
- Apr 30 2026 – Mutual protective orders issued; Minas retains current custody arrangement.
- May 11 2026 – Commissioner to issue written custody recommendation.
- Jun 1 2026 – Review hearing scheduled.
Data & Statistics
- 11 separate altercations were examined in the protective-order filings.
- 8 hours per week of supervised visitation is currently allowed for Paul.
- The protective orders are set to last 3 years and enforce a 100-foot separation.
Why It Matters
The orders directly affect Ever’s living environment, limiting both parents’ physical interaction and shaping future parenting time. The case also illustrates how reality-TV fame can intersect with family-court proceedings, influencing network decisions and public perception of domestic-violence allegations.
Official Statements & Responses
Commissioner Minas emphasized the need to protect the child, stating the parties must “put your child first and shield the child from this conflict.” Paul’s attorney Eric Swinyard described the ruling as “a significant step forward” and highlighted Paul’s willingness to cooperate with the court. Mortensen’s lawyer Brent Salazar-Hall argued that Paul repeatedly lured Mortensen back with intimate messages and portrayed his client as a victim of abuse.
Criticism & Opposition
Salazar-Hall contested Swinyard’s claim that Mortensen leaked the video, calling it “unsubstantiated.” Several *Mormon Wives* cast members refused to work with Paul, prompting a temporary production halt. Prosecutors’ decisions not to file charges were cited by both sides as evidence of ambiguous culpability.
On-the-Ground Reports
The April 30 hearing was livestreamed; families of both parties attended, while other cast members stayed away. Paul was seen hugging Mortensen’s mother, Cheyenne Cranford Mortensen, after the ruling. The courtroom atmosphere was described as calm, with both exes seated apart.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Accounts differ on who initiated specific assaults: Swinyard alleges Mortensen kicked Paul after she fell, while Salazar-Hall claims Paul slammed Mortensen’s head into a dashboard. Police reports note “allegations in both directions” but no criminal charges were filed, leaving key details unresolved.
Verbatim Quotes
- “I’m hoping that you’re not people who just thrive on the drama and the conflict.” — Russell Minas, Third District Court Commissioner
- “He said, ‘Hit me,’ and she did,” — Eric Swinyard, attorney for Taylor Frankie Paul
- “Our point with the video is he’s not just trying to come after her for custody. He’s not just trying to seek a protective order. He wants to literally destroy her,” — Eric Swinyard, attorney for Taylor Frankie Paul
- “There seems to be a continuing attraction that they have for each other, whether it’s physical, whether it’s the thrill between the two of them of making themselves celebrities,” — Russell Minas
What’s Next
Commissioner Minas will issue a written custody recommendation by May 11, after which a June 1 review hearing will determine whether Paul’s supervised visitation will remain, be expanded, or be altered. The protective orders remain in effect for three years unless modified by the court.
