Taylor Frankie Paul and Dakota Mortensen both granted protective orders
Taylor Frankie Paul and Dakota Mortensen have been granted mutual protective orders for the next three years following allegations of domestic violence.
Taylor Frankie Paul and Dakota Mortensen have been granted mutual protective orders for the next three years.
The exes are in the midst of a custody hearing regarding their two-year-old son Ever after domestic violence cases with each party claiming the other acted violently in a series of altercations in February.
On Thursday (30.04.26), Commissioner Russell Minas made the ruling during a protective order hearing in a courtroom in Salt Lake City.
It was the first time the Secret Lives of Mormon Wives star, 31, and her ex had appeared in public together since the news broke of domestic violence investigations.
Minas told the court that the pair can't be in the same place together for long before "it turns violent".
He added: "I'm finding that there's been violence both ways between these parties."
Describing their dynamic as "toxic" and "dysfunctional", he urged Taylor and Dakota to put their son first, while reminding them that they will be "linked together for the remainder of [their] lives".
He said: "You guys have to figure out a lot here. You have to figure out how to function as co-parents."
Minas described that as the former couple's "legacy", insisting that how they "deal with conflict" could "affect" Ever as he grows up.
Taylor and Dakota are set to get a recommendation about parenting time ahead of their June 1 hearing.
Minas noted that for the time being, "what's best" for Ever is to make sure his parents are not allowed to "be in the same place at the same time".
In response to the ruling, Taylor's lawyer Eric M. Swinyard told PEOPLE magazine that the decision was a "significant step forward".
He added: "Taylor was incredibly candid with the Court that she is not perfect and owned her faults, which is in direct contrast to how the other party presented their argument, despite evidence and input from law enforcement that showed otherwise.
"Taylor feels solidarity with the many survivors who have endured similar hardships behind closed doors and shared only part of their stories."
The attorney also said Taylor "remains grateful for the outpouring of support she continues to receive" and "looks forward to continuing to cooperate with the court to make progress in the custody case".
Police previously declined to press charges on the domestic violent allegations.
Utah’s Draper Police Department told Deadline in a statement: “After reviewing reports and evidence submitted to the Draper Police Department and West Jordan Police Department, the Salt Lake County District Attorney’s Office has declined to file charges against Taylor Frankie Paul.”
Meanwhile, ABC previously announced it was pulling the planned premiere of Taylor’s season of The Bachelorette after a 2023 video of Frankie, 31, throwing chairs at her ex-boyfriend Dakota Mortensen in the presence of her child was released by TMZ.
The clip was taken during an incident in 2023 connected to The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives' arrest for alleged domestic violence following an altercation with Mortensen, 33, the father of her two-year-old son Ever.
At the time, Taylor was arrested and pleaded guilty to aggravated assault.
Further charges of domestic violence in the presence of a child, child abuse with injury and criminal mischief were dismissed.
She also has daughter Indy, eight, and son Ocean, five, with ex-husband Tate Paul.
A Disney Entertainment Television spokesperson said: “In light of the newly released video just surfaced today, we have made the decision to not move forward with the new season of The Bachelorette at this time, and our focus is on supporting the family.”
