A significant legal hearing is set to take place on April 30, as Taylor Frankie Paul and her ex-partner Dakota Mortensen are summoned to a court in Utah. This hearing will address their competing requests for protective orders and attempt to establish a custody arrangement for their two-year-old son, Ever.
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The context of the dispute has escalated in recent weeks, with Jessi Draper, a co-star of Paul from the reality series ‘Secret Lives of Mormon Wives’, recently submitting a declaration supporting Paul’s position in the continuing legal battle. Draper filed her affidavit on April 29, indicating her commitment to backing Paul during this tumultuous period. A source familiar with the situation has confirmed that Draper’s support comes from a place of concern for her friend and the well-being of Paul’s child.
In an earlier court session held on April 7, new developments unfolded as a judge granted temporary custody of Ever to Mortensen. This ruling included provisions for Paul to have supervised visitation rights, limited to eight hours a week, either by a paid supervisor or a vetted individual chosen by the guardian ad litem.
Paul has publicly accused Mortensen of serious misconduct, including claims of stalking and incidents of physical violence, the most concerning being an alleged incident where he slammed her head into the dashboard of his vehicle. In contrast, Mortensen has presented evidence, including photographs, purportedly showing injuries he sustained during altercations with Paul.
Tensions escalated further in February as both local police departments – the Draper City Police and the West Jordan Police – launched investigations into allegations of domestic violence made by each party against the other. However, both the Salt Lake County District Attorney’s Office and the Draper City Prosecutor later decided not to pursue charges against Paul, citing a lack of sufficient evidence.
The couple’s legal feud became more pronounced when Mortensen sought a protective order against Paul. Subsequently, Paul filed a request for a protective order of her own. The judge’s April 7 ruling provided Mortensen with custody rights, while Paul was given limited supervised visitation until the upcoming hearing.
Paul’s legal troubles are not entirely recent, as she faced arrest in 2023 for allegedly committing an act of domestic violence against Mortensen. Reports indicated that during the incident, Paul was accused of throwing metal chairs at him while their daughter Indy was present. Although she pleaded guilty to aggravated assault, other charges were dismissed.
The case first gained widespread media attention when a video surfaced online, depicting the earlier altercation between Paul and Mortensen—which negatively impacted Paul’s television career. In light of this incident, producers decided to cancel the upcoming season of ‘The Bachelorette’, which Paul had already filmed, just days before it was set to air.
Amidst the ongoing drama, production for the fifth season of ‘Mormon Wives’ faced interruptions, after several cast members expressed their reluctance to work alongside Paul. However, recent updates indicate that filming has resumed without the involvement of either Paul or Mortensen.
Despite the complexities of her situation, Paul has reportedly received continued support from her cast members and producers, with indications that she might return to the show in the future. Yet, her present focus remains on her children and personal recovery from a challenging relationship.
In an unrelated incident, Jessi Draper has also been making headlines due to her own legal issues, as her ex-husband, Jordan Ngatikaura, recently filed for divorce and obtained a restraining order against her. The couple shares two young children, further complicating Draper’s situation during a tumultuous time for both her and Paul.
As the April 30 court hearing approaches, it will be crucial for both Paul and Mortensen to present their cases as they seek to determine the custody arrangement for young Ever, amidst serious allegations and ongoing personal challenges.