Breaking Down Taylor Frankie Paul’s Legal Case With Dakota Mortensen

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Taylor Frankie Paul was hoping her court hearing with her ex, Dakota Mortensen, on April 30th would be a more private, personal conversation.

Instead of private discussions, all details about the former couple’s disagreements – including the protective orders they’ve both requested and arrangements for their two-year-old son – will be officially documented in court during a hearing in Utah.

The attorney for the star of Secret Lives of Mormon Wives says the upcoming event could be incredibly dramatic.

As I understand it from the recent court hearing – specifically, what Eric Swinyard stated on April 7th – things are heading towards a major decision on the 30th. The judge granted temporary custody to Mortensen, with Paul only allowed supervised visits, and Swinyard pretty much signaled that date will be when we find out the full outcome. It sounds like a real turning point is coming up!

As a lifestyle expert, I’ve been following this situation closely. It all started on March 19th when Mortensen, 33, sought a protective order against his ex-girlfriend. This happened the same day TMZ released a video from 2023 showing a physical fight where his ex, 31, actually threw a chair. It’s a really upsetting scene, especially since you can hear a child crying in the background. Just to add to the complexity, she also shares two children with her former husband, Tate Paul.

ABC revealed on that day that Paul wouldn’t be appearing to give out roses on the season of The Bachelorette that had already been filmed.

And the situation has only grown thornier in the weeks since. 

According to court documents obtained by TMZ, Mortensen claimed in a restraining order that his ex-partner physically abused him on two occasions in February.

Before a court hearing scheduled for April 7th, Paul requested a temporary restraining order, claiming Mortensen had repeatedly been abusive and controlling during their three-year, intermittent relationship.

Since the two parties aren’t interested in being friendly, their lawyers expect the meeting to be strained.

Following the court hearing on April 7th, Joel Kittrell, Mortensen’s attorney, stated that the opposing side spent the hearing attacking Dakota’s character as a father, despite his sole focus being the well-being of his son. They anticipate presenting their side of the story at the next hearing on the 30th.

Similarly, Paul is ready for her day in court. 

My client has already been judged in the public eye through social media, but the court needs to base its decision on facts. We are confident that all the evidence, when considered together, will clearly demonstrate who was actually the abuser and who acted violently throughout the relationship.

Can we quickly talk about what’s been going on between these former partners?

Taylor Frankie Paul, who gained popularity on TikTok as #MomTok, was arrested in Utah on February 17, 2023, following an altercation with her boyfriend, Dakota Mortensen. According to court documents obtained by ABC 4 Utah, she allegedly threw metal chairs and a wooden playset at him while one of her children was present. She shares these children with her ex-husband, Tate Paul.

According to court records released by the Salt Lake County District Attorney and reported by TopMob News, Paul faces several charges: one felony count of aggravated assault, two felony counts of domestic violence with a child present that resulted in injury, one misdemeanor count of child abuse, and one misdemeanor count of criminal mischief.

According to court documents, the Herriman police officer who arrived at the scene stated that Mortensen told him he had been arguing with his girlfriend. The officer also said that Mortensen claimed his girlfriend, Paul, started hitting him when he tried to leave.

In August 2023, Paul admitted guilt to a serious assault charge, as shown in court records obtained by the Salt Lake Tribune. Four other charges against him were dropped and cannot be filed again.

For three years, the charges against her were put on hold. If Paul followed the conditions of the agreement, the case would then be filed as a minor offense.

As part of her agreement, Paul was required to get assessments for substance abuse and domestic violence, and complete any treatment they recommended, all within three years. She also had to avoid breaking any major laws.

Paul and Mortensen welcomed their son a week ahead of schedule. Paul shared a photo on Instagram on April 4, 2024, expressing their joy and gratitude, saying, “These past two weeks with him have been wonderful. We all love him so much and are thrilled to have him as part of our family.”

Paul told TopMob News that the fight with Mortensen was definitely the lowest point for them.

She explained that he supported her because he understood what was really happening. “It was a terrible night, and I really regret it,” she said. Dakota had gone through a difficult time himself, so he truly empathized with her situation. He told her, ‘I want to help you through this.’

As for the confrontation itself, she later said the incident had been building up. 

She revealed on the Viall Files podcast in September 2024 that she’d experienced an ectopic pregnancy a few months earlier, followed by a chemical pregnancy. While hesitant to directly blame hormonal imbalances, she acknowledged they likely played a role, saying she felt ‘pretty off.’

Paul explained that she felt lost and furious after what happened. She admitted to drinking that night because she was so upset, and Dakota was upset with her for doing so when he came to pick her up.

I recall throwing objects, and I didn’t recognize my daughters who were on the couch. We had babysitters, so I believe they were upstairs asleep. She claimed Mortensen tried to point out that her five-year-old daughter was there, but I was so out of it that I didn’t care and threw another chair.

The first season of The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives premiered on Hulu in September 2024, beginning with an episode that detailed Paul’s arrest in 2023.

Paul publicly announced their breakup in May 2025, following the season two premiere of SLOMW, which revealed that Mortensen had been unfaithful shortly after their son was born. Paul shared on TikTok, “I no longer consider Dakota to be mine, and I wish him well.”

Life was pretty perfect – Dakota and I were happily raising our new baby, and honestly, I was starting to picture a future with an engagement ring. Then, everything changed when I discovered he hadn’t been truthful with me the whole time. It was a complete shock.

In a fourth-season episode of SLOMW, Mortensen confessed to having an affair with a friend, Shinia Powell. During a FaceTime conversation with Taylor, Mortensen acknowledged their mistake, saying, “It was a bad decision, and I could have chosen someone else. The person I chose was the problem – I knew this person would cause issues, and that was wrong of me.”

Paul will be the next Bachelorette! The news was revealed in September 2025 during an appearance on the Call Her Daddy podcast. This is a big change for the show, which usually chooses leads from past seasons of The Bachelor.

Paul saw it as a positive turning point, explaining in a preview for the new season, “I think this happened for a reason, to help me move forward.”

Paul admitted he’s faced criticism, judgment, and rejection, but believes those who get to know him will see he’s a sincere person with good intentions who deserves another opportunity at love.

Just before filming began for season 22 of The Bachelorette, Paul and Mortensen had a heartfelt talk featured on season four of SLOMW. During the conversation, Mortensen apologized for his relationship with Shinia, admitting it was a mistake and saying he was wrong to have done it.

He explained that he and Paul had both caused each other pain in the past, but ultimately still cared deeply for one another.

Both agreed their relationship was unhealthy, and Paul felt that appearing on The Bachelorette would be a positive step forward, even if they didn’t end up together. He believed it would give them both the space and opportunity to heal and break their negative pattern.

Mortensen let Paul know he still had feelings, saying he was genuinely happy for him and wished him well if he found someone. However, he playfully asked Paul to ‘save a rose for him,’ hinting that he hadn’t given up on the possibility of a relationship.

Production on season five of Secret Lives of Mormon Wives was temporarily stopped in February 2026 following a reported disagreement between Paul and Mortensen.

On March 16th, a representative from the Draper City Police Department told People magazine that they are investigating allegations of domestic assault involving Paul and Mortensen, with claims made by both individuals. Police made contact with those involved on February 24th and 25th, but are not releasing further details while the investigation is ongoing.

According to a source at TopMob News, Taylor is taking responsibility for her actions and is primarily focused on shielding her son, Ever, from negative press coverage about himself or his father. She wants Ever to have a positive view of his father.

After reports surfaced about a disagreement between Paul and Mortensen scheduled for 2026, TMZ published video of a physical fight that occurred between them in 2023.

The video shows Mortensen filming a confrontation while Paul shouts at him and tries to hit him, even briefly putting him in a headlock.

“Look,” Mortensen can be heard saying, “this is called physical abuse.”

As the argument escalated, he told her his daughter was there, just as Paul started throwing metal barstools at him. Paul claimed Mortensen had pushed her to the ground before he began filming, repeatedly saying, “You did this,” and urging her to help their five-year-old daughter. He was later heard shouting, “Stay away from my daughter!”

According to a police report obtained by TopMob News in 2023, the child was struck by a stool.

Following the video’s release, a representative for Paul stated to TopMob News that it was part of an effort to damage her reputation. They said the video lacked important background information and was intended to shift attention away from Mortensen’s behavior. Mortensen, the real estate agent, dismissed Paul’s accusations as untrue.

Following the release of video showing a conflict between Paul and Mortensen in 2023, ABC announced the cancellation of season 22 of The Bachelorette. A Disney Entertainment representative told TopMob News, “We’ve decided not to proceed with the new season right now, and our priority is supporting the family involved.”

Following ABC’s decision, Paul broke her silence about the situation. 

As a longtime advocate for well-being, I’m so glad to see Taylor prioritizing her and her children’s safety. Her representative shared with me that after enduring years of hidden mental and physical abuse, and even facing threats, she’s finally finding the courage to address the situation and build a secure future for her family. It’s a huge step, and ABC’s support is clearly making a difference as she navigates this challenging time.

Many women are quietly enduring hardship because their former partners are controlling, possessive, and won’t allow them to rebuild their lives.

Her representative said Paul is considering all possible paths forward, getting the support she needs, and getting ready to publicly discuss what happened.

Mortensen addressed claims of domestic violence involving himself and Paul, stating in a March 19th interview with TopMob News that the situation, as seen in a video, was “deeply upsetting.”

He stated he was sadly accustomed to false accusations regarding himself and their relationship, and firmly denied them all.

“I am focusing on our son and his safety,” Paul added, “and hope that Taylor will do the same.”

According to documents obtained by People magazine on March 20th, Mortensen was granted temporary custody of their son after filing a protective order against Paul. A hearing was scheduled for April 7th to allow Taylor to share her perspective, but until then, neither parent was permitted to spend time with their son, according to the report.

Utah authorities are investigating a new alleged domestic violence incident from 2024 that Mortensen reported to police in February, according to a West Jordan Police Department spokesperson who spoke with NBC News on March 24. Investigators have contacted Paul’s attorney but haven’t yet spoken with Paul directly. They are requesting a written statement or an interview from her to confirm the details of Mortensen’s report.

Following a court hearing on April 7th where Paul was allowed supervised visits with her and Mortensen’s son, the Salt Lake County District Attorney’s Office stated they would not pursue charges against her. This decision came after investigations by both the Draper and West Jordan Police Departments, as reported by the Salt Lake Tribune.

The news release stated that several lawyers reviewed the case because the defendant was a well-known figure.

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2026-04-30 22:23