Judge to Taylor Frankie Paul and Dakota Mortensen: ‘You two need to stay away from each other’

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A Utah judge ruled on Thursday that protective orders filed by reality TV personality Taylor Frankie Paul and her former partner, Dakota Mortensen, will both be enforced. However, the judge postponed making any decisions about how to handle custody arrangements between the two.

Court Commissioner Russell Minas issued orders that will last for three years, requiring Paul and Mortensen to stay at least 100 feet apart. He also cautioned them that breaking these orders could lead to criminal charges.

Minas believes it’s crucial to have a clear agreement keeping both parties separate. He’s worried that without a direct order for them to stay apart, further issues will arise.

Speaking to Paul and Mortensen, Minas expressed his hope that they weren’t intentionally fueling the conflict. He wants to find a way to work with both of them to get things back to normal, but believes they need to avoid contact with each other. He suggested implementing rules with consequences if they try to interact, as he feels there’s still a strong attraction between them, whether physical or not.

Meri Brown, 31, star of “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives,” and Kody Brown, 33, both attended a court hearing in Utah, which was broadcast online. It was the first time they’ve been seen together publicly since reports surfaced last month of domestic violence investigations involving multiple claims.

Just before the judge’s final decision, Mortensen was given custody of their son, while Paul, a star on the Hulu show “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives,” was granted up to eight hours a week of supervised visits. This plan will continue until May 11th, when the judge will share their recommendation for a more permanent parenting schedule.

A court review is scheduled for June, after child protective services finishes and analyzes mental health and domestic violence evaluations for Paul and Mortensen, which were part of a safety plan. The Times has contacted both individuals for a response.

Television

The reality star was about to start appearing on a new dating show, but that plan was interrupted when someone from ‘The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives’ tried to connect the two shows, and things fell apart. What will happen next?

Both Paul and Mortensen were investigated by police in Draper City and West Jordan after each accused the other of physical violence during arguments in February and another incident earlier in 2024. Following news reports about the February accusations, a video surfaced from 2023 showing Paul throwing bar stools at Mortensen while her daughter was nearby. Paul had previously pleaded guilty to aggravated assault related to that incident and will finish her probation in August. During the recent investigation, both Paul and Mortensen sought protective orders against each other.

Both the Salt Lake County District Attorney and the Draper City prosecutor decided not to press charges against Paul in April. They stated they didn’t have enough proof to convict him, meaning they couldn’t prove his guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

Hollywood Inc.

Disney invested heavily in Taylor Frankie Paul, a star from “Secret Lives of Mormon Wives,” hoping she would become the face of a major Disney franchise.

The difficult split between the former couple also caused a halt in production for Season 5 of “Mormon Wives.” The show has followed their challenging relationship since it began in 2024. Additionally, Season 22 of “The Bachelorette,” starring Paul, has been put on hold.

The decision regarding the show’s orders arrived just a week after news broke that “Sister Wives” had started filming its fifth season without Kody Brown and Christine Brown – though Kody may have the opportunity to rejoin later. What will happen with the unaired season of “The Bachelorette” is still unknown.

Alexandra Del Rosario contributed reporting.

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2026-05-01 03:31