Taylor Frankie Paul’s Legal Battle With Dakota Mortensen Intensifies With Protective Order Filing

Taylor Frankie Paul has filed a temporary protective order against her ex-boyfriend, Dakota Mortensen, in Salt Lake District Court on Tuesday, April 7, recent reports say. According to PEOPLE, the Secret Lives of Mormon Wives star has alleged that Mortensen has had “a pattern of abusive conduct and coercive control” in their relationship.

Previously, Mortensen, 33, had filed a temporary protective order against Paul, 31, on March 19. He was granted custody of their two-year-old son, Ever, ahead of their hearing on April 7. Paul’s filing came about an hour before the ex-couple was scheduled to meet in court to discuss the temporary order against her. According to the news outlet, Paul claimed that Mortensen’s filing was an “effort to sabotage my career.”

In her temporary protective order against Mortensen, Paul reportedly listed the details from many incidents when the former had allegedly been violent towards her. Paul also provided screenshots of text messages and photo proof of the bruises that she allegedly got during fights with Mortensen. The Mormon Wives star also requested that Ever be covered under the protective order.

PEOPLE reported that in her filing, Paul cited an instance from February 23, when Mortensen drove her away from her home against her consent while her three kids were asleep inside. She alleged that he then “assaulted” her by “slamming her head against the dashboard of his truck and striking her knee and elbow.”

According to NBC News, at the Tuesday hearing, Mortensen’s lawyer stated that his client wants child visitation to take place under supervision, with a facilitator serving as an intermediary between both parties.

He explained that his client does not consider direct communication safe for both parties, saying that Mortensen claims Paul becomes “completely out of control” and “reckless” during arguments. The lawyer also alleged that Paul had earlier “tried to involve the child in the violence,” though no additional details were shared.

Paul’s lawyer responded with a request to return to the previous custody arrangement, under which his client had the child 70% of the time. He also argued that Mortensen is not a reliable source, saying that the order “speaks to how vindictive Mr Mortensen is.” He also added that both parties have a lot of allegations against the other.

In 2023, Paul was arrested for domestic violence after being accused of throwing “heavy metal chairs” at Mortensen following an argument. According to the indictment obtained by PEOPLE, during the altercation, their then five-year-old daughter, Indy, was allegedly struck with a chair.

Recently, a video from 2023 resurfaced, which matches the description of the incident in the indictment. In the clip, Mortensen can be seen filming Paul as she hits him and throws chairs at him.

Following her arrest in 2023, Paul was given misdemeanor charges of assault, criminal mischief and commission of domestic violence in the presence of a child. She later pled guilty in abeyance to aggravated assault.

Meanwhile, both Paul and Mortensen are the subjects of two separate domestic assault investigations opened in February 2026. Utah police departments in Draper and West Jordan told NBC News that their departments are looking into open domestic violence investigations with allegations on both sides.