At a hearing on competing requests for protective orders between reality TV star Taylor Frankie Paul and her ex-boyfriend Dakota Mortensen, a Utah judge on Thursday granted that both orders take effect, although he delayed making a decision on a custody agreement.
The orders, which were issued by 3rd District Court Commissioner Russell Minas, are in effect for three years and require Paul and Mortensen to stay at least 100 feet away from each other. He also warned that both could be subject to criminal charges if there is a violation of the orders.
“I think it's important that there are mutual orders,” Minas said. “The only thing I'm worried about is that if I don't order you both to stay away from each other, there will be some additional problems.”
Addressing Paul and Mortensen, Minas said, “I hope you're not people who just thrive on drama and conflict… I want to work with you two to try to restore some sense of normalcy. I just think that right now, you two need to stay away from each other and there need to be orders that will have consequences if you try to get involved with each other because I still think you have this attraction to each other, physical or otherwise.”
“The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” star, 31, and Mortensen, 33, appeared in Utah court for the hearing, which was broadcast live, the first time they were seen together in the same room since it was revealed last month that they were involved in domestic violence investigations involving multiple allegations.
In the weeks before the ruling, the judge had granted Mortensen custody of their son, with up to eight hours a week of supervised visits for Paul, known as one of the stars of Hulu's “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives.” That agreement will remain in effect until the judge offers his recommendation on parenting time on or before May 11.
Dakota Mortensen in the courtroom Thursday.
(Bethany Baker/Associated Press)
A review hearing is scheduled for June, once mental health and domestic violence evaluations of Paul and Mortensen ordered as part of the safety plan by child protective services have been completed and processed.
Paul's attorney, Eric M. Swinyard, described the hearing as an “important step forward.”
“Taylor was incredibly candid with the Court in saying that she is not perfect and acknowledged her flaws,” her statement reads in part. “He looks forward to continuing to cooperate with the Court to advance the custody case.”
The Times also contacted Mortensen for comment.
Paul and Mortensen had been under investigation by both the Draper City Police Department and the West Jordan Police Department regarding a series of allegations each made that the other had acted violently during altercations in February, as well as an incident that took place in 2024. After the February allegations made headlines, a video of Paul was leaked in 2023 which led to his arrest; showed the reality star throwing stools at Mortensen while her daughter was present. (Paul entered a suspended guilty plea to aggravated assault after that incident and his probation in that case will end in August.) In the midst of the investigation, Mortensen and Paul filed competing orders of protection against each other.
The Salt Lake County district attorney's office and the Draper City prosecutor declined to file charges against Paul in April, citing insufficient evidence to prove the allegations beyond a reasonable doubt.
The situation between the embattled exes also resulted in the hiatus of filming for season 5 of “Mormon Wives.” The show has documented the couple's tumultuous relationship since its launch in 2024. It also led to the shelving of season 22 of ABC's “The Bachelorette,” which featured Paul as its heroine.
But Thursday's ruling on the orders comes a week after reports emerged that “Mormon Wives” resumed production on its fifth season, without Paul and Mortensen's involvement; although Paul reportedly has the option to return. The fate of the unaired season of “The Bachelorette” is still unclear.
Alexandra Del Rosario contributed reporting.
