Taylor Frankie Paul Appears in Court as Legal Battle Over Protective Order Begins
Taylor Frankie Paul was present in court on Tuesday as a contentious legal dispute commenced regarding a protective order filed by her former boyfriend, Dakota Mortensen. Mortensen, who had previously obtained a temporary restraining order against the Secret Lives of Mormon Wives star, is now urging the court to convert this into a long-term protection order. This move comes as domestic violence allegations against Paul remain under active investigation by authorities.
Currently, Mortensen holds temporary custody of their two-year-old son, adding a layer of complexity to the proceedings. Both Paul and Mortensen participated in the hearing remotely, with their respective legal teams physically present at the Salt Lake City courthouse. Notably, Paul, who reportedly left the Mormon Church earlier this week, did not attend the courtroom in person alongside Mortensen.
Judge Questions Allegations Involving Children
During the initial stages of the hearing, the presiding judge inquired, "So let me ask this too, is [Mortensen] alleging that [Paul] ever did anything that was aimed at the children directly or was it incidental?" In response, Mortensen's legal representative stated, "Your Honor, we're alleging both. That in these moments where the parties are fighting, she is completely out of control." The lawyer further elaborated, "So yes, if they happen to be in the line of fire when she's coming at him, yes, they will get harmed."
The court then shifted its focus to a domestic violence incident from 2023, which resulted in Paul's arrest. A video of this altercation resurfaced just prior to the cancellation of her Bachelorette season. In the footage, Paul is observed throwing a chair at Mortensen during a heated argument, with her daughter present in the room.
Judge Expresses Concern Over Volatility
The judge commented on the video evidence, noting, "I only have the video and there's a starting point and there's an ending point and who knows what happened before and who knows what happened after, but Dakota is holding the child and that's clear in the video, and she's pushing him and telling him to get out of the house." The judge added, "And at one point it even appears in the video that he trips and almost falls over while he's holding the child. To me that makes me very nervous about her ability to control herself and her volatility. I don't understand how you have a situation where you throw a chair at someone, knowing that your child's sitting on the couch."
In February of this year, a new investigation was initiated following fresh allegations of Paul attacking Mortensen. Subsequently, in March, a third police inquiry was launched when Mortensen reported a separate alleged incident from 2024.
Paul Files Counter Protective Order
Just hours before the Tuesday hearing, Paul submitted her own application for a protective order against Mortensen. Court documents accessed on April 7 reveal that Paul is seeking this order, accusing Mortensen of a "pattern of abusive conduct and coercive control" throughout their relationship. The filing outlines four distinct incidents where Paul alleges she was subjected to domestic abuse, including claims of "assault, harassment, and stalking."
One incident detailed in the filing occurred in the early hours of February 23, 2026. Paul asserts that Mortensen arrived at her residence while their three children, including their son Ever, were asleep. After insisting on speaking with her, they moved outside, but Paul alleges he then drove off with her in his vehicle against her will, despite her protests. According to the filing, "The parties argued and Dakota assaulted Taylor by slamming her head against the dashboard of his truck and striking her knee and elbow." Paul described the pain as "immediate and intense." Photographs submitted by Paul display bruises that emerged shortly after the alleged assault. Furthermore, Paul claims that Mortensen "requested sex" after the February altercation.
Additional Allegations and Evidence
The first incident referenced in the filing took place on May 27, 2025, when the couple reportedly engaged in a verbal argument at Paul's home. Paul contends that after she asked Mortensen to depart, he refused, and during the ensuing dispute, she lost her balance, leading to Mortensen allegedly kicking her. The filing includes images of her injuries, such as bruises.
Additionally, Paul accused Mortensen of stalking her during an incident on February 14, 2026, when he allegedly sent her a photograph of her initials tattooed on the inside of his lip. The filing contains pictures of the tattoo, and in a sworn statement, Paul remarked, "My initials are now permanently tattooed on the body of a man who has been abusive toward and possessive of me."
Merely days later, on February 22, 2026, Paul alleges that Mortensen arrived at her home early in the morning after their son Ever experienced difficulty sleeping at his house. The filing asserts that Mortensen confronted Paul over her decision to terminate their relationship and, despite her repeated demands for him to leave, allegedly refused to comply and remained in her residence.
Other evidence presented includes "possessive texts" from Mortensen, further supporting Paul's claims of coercive control. The legal battle continues as both parties seek protective measures against each other, with the court yet to make a final determination on the long-term order.
