Taylor Frankie Paul and Dakota Mortensen were both present in court for the first time since their ongoing domestic violence legal battle began.
According to video footage shared via social media, Paul, 31, and Mortensen arrived at the Utah courthouse on Thursday, April 30, for their competing protective hearing orders. The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives star was joined by her mother Liann May, stepfather, Jeremy May, and sister Aspyn.
Per a live stream of the hearing, the twosome could be seen sitting on the same bench with their respective legal teams as their attorneys spoke to the judge.
Paul and Mortensen’s hearing was scheduled to establish a custody arrangement for their son Ever, 2, following multiple accusations of domestic violence on both sides.
News broke in March that Paul and Mortensen, who dated on and off from 2022 to 2024, were allegedly involved in a domestic violence dispute the previous month. The alleged incident resulted in Mormon Wives pausing production on the upcoming season 5. (Paul’s season 22 of the Bachelorette was also shelved by ABC amid allegations stemming from a prior domestic violence incident between Paul and Mortensen.)
The pair subsequently filed temporary restraining orders against each other. Mortensen earned temporary custody of Ever while Paul was granted supervised visits.
The Salt Lake County District Attorney’s Office ultimately declined to file charges against Paul for the 2026 incident. (Paul previously reached a plea deal for the 2023 incident and pleaded guilty to one count of third-degree felony aggravated assault).
“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,” District Attorney Sim Gill’s office said in a statement to Us Weekly earlier this month.
Paul reacted to the legal win via her Instagram Story, “Cried when I got the call 🙏 THANK YOU to those that have stood with me.”
Mortensen, for his part, also addressed the now-closed police investigation.
“Over the past several weeks, I’ve taken a step back and had time away from the chaos. That space has been a breath of fresh air and has given me clarity,” he wrote via Instagram. “My focus now is where it should have been all along-on my son and creating a stable, healthy environment for him moving forward,”
Mortensen continued, “I regret not stepping away from the difficult cycle sooner. I’m not perfect, and I take accountability for my part. I’m sincerely sorry to those I’ve hurt. At the same time, I don’t agree with how this situation has been portrayed publicly. It does not reflect the full context of what occurred or the impact it has had on me and my son.”
Earlier on Thursday, Us Weekly confirmed that Paul’s Mormon Wives costar Jessi Draper filed an affidavit in support of Paul. The reality star also received letters of support from her sister.
