A contentious custody battle between reality television personalities Taylor Frankie Paul and Dakota Mortensen reached a critical juncture on Thursday, April 30, when Utah judge Commissioner Russell Minas issued mutual protective orders requiring both parties to maintain a distance of 100 feet from one another for the next three years.
The hearing, which centered on custody arrangements for the former couple's 2-year-old son, Ever, concluded without changes to the existing custody structure. Dakota Mortensen retained temporary custody of Ever, a status granted in March, while Taylor Frankie Paul continues to receive up to eight hours of supervised visitation each week.
Taylor Frankie Paul's attorney, Eric M. Swinyard, characterized the hearing as a significant development in the ongoing legal proceedings. He emphasized that the protective orders require Mortensen to stay away from his client, while praising Paul's approach during testimony.
"Taylor was incredibly candid with the Court that she is not perfect and owned her faults, which is in direct contrast to how the other party presented their argument, despite evidence and input from law enforcement that showed otherwise," Swinyard stated.
The custody dispute has unfolded against a backdrop of domestic violence allegations from both parties. Commissioner Minas addressed the volatile nature of the relationship directly during Thursday's proceedings, describing it as exceptionally toxic and expressing concern about the former couple's ability to function as coparents.
"This has been a very toxic relationship. It's beyond the pale in a lot of ways, the toxicity," Minas told the parties. "What I've seen from the evidence even post [the] last hearing, there seems to be a continuing attraction that they have for each other. … You guys have to figure out a lot here. You have to figure out how to function as coparents."
The judge emphasized the paramount importance of shielding their child from ongoing conflict, stating, "I'm hoping that you're not people who just thrive on the drama and the conflict. You've got to put your child first and shield the child from this conflict."
Commissioner Minas indicated he would maintain the current custody arrangement while deliberating further on whether to lift supervision requirements for visitation. "I'm going to leave the current [custody] order in place. I need to think a little bit more about this lifting of supervision. I have mixed feelings about it," he stated.
The custody proceedings emerged following two separate police investigations into alleged domestic violence incidents involving both parties. Dakota Mortensen sought custody of Ever in March amid these investigations, which examined incidents allegedly occurring in 2024 in West Jordan, Utah, and this past February in Draper, Utah.
In April, prosecutors declined to file charges against Taylor Frankie Paul in connection with either incident. District attorney Sim Gill's office confirmed the decision on April 14, stating, "After reviewing reports and evidence submitted to the Draper Police Department and West Jordan Police Department, the Salt Lake County District Attorney's Office has declined to file charges against Taylor Frankie Paul."
Both Paul and Mortensen appear on the reality television series Secret Lives of Mormon Wives. Paul, 31, also shares two children—daughter Indy, 8, and son Ocean, 5—with ex-husband Tate Paul.
Swinyard concluded his statement by noting his client's solidarity with domestic violence survivors and her commitment to cooperating with the court. "Taylor feels solidarity with the many survivors who have endured similar hardships behind closed doors and shared only part of their stories, and she remains grateful for the outpouring of support she continues to receive. She looks forward to continuing to cooperate with the Court to make progress in the custody case," he said.
The protective orders and custody arrangements represent the latest chapter in what Commissioner Minas characterized as an extraordinarily complex and contentious case, with the welfare of a young child hanging in the balance as legal proceedings continue.