A Utah judge granted reality TV star Taylor Frankie Paul supervised visits with her 2-year-old son, Ever, following a court hearing on Tuesday. The ruling comes amid a custody dispute with ex-boyfriend Dakota Mortensen, who has temporary custody of their son. The judge allowed Paul up to eight hours of supervised visitation per week until a protective order hearing on April 30.
Core Facts and Developments
Supervised Visitation Granted: Utah Third District Court Commissioner Russell Minas ruled that Paul can have supervised visits with her son, Ever, after hearing arguments from both sides. The visits are capped at eight hours per week and will be monitored by a third-party facility.
Ongoing Legal Battle: Mortensen filed a protective order against Paul on March 19, alleging domestic violence incidents in February. Paul filed a counter protective order on April 7, just hours before the hearing. Both parties are under investigation for alleged domestic violence.
Deeper Dive and Context
Background of the Dispute
Paul and Mortensen, who share a son born in March 2024, have a history of legal and personal conflicts. In 2023, Paul was arrested and pleaded guilty to aggravated assault following a domestic violence incident with Mortensen. The resurfacing of a video from that altercation led to the cancellation of Paul’s upcoming season of The Bachelorette.
Legal Arguments Presented
Mortensen’s Claims: Mortensen’s attorney argued that Paul’s behavior is “out of control” and “reckless,” citing incidents where she allegedly involved their child in violence. Mortensen sought supervised visitation, alleging Paul’s volatility poses a risk to their son’s safety.
Paul’s Defense: Paul’s legal team argued that Mortensen lacks credibility and that his protective order is vindictive. They requested a return to the previous custody arrangement, where Paul had 70% of the parenting time. Paul’s attorney also highlighted recent incidents, including an alleged February 2025 incident where Mortensen allegedly asked for sex after a domestic dispute.
Judge’s Concerns
Commissioner Minas expressed concerns about both parties, noting Mortensen’s alleged “pushing of buttons to get a reaction” and Paul’s “troubling” responses. The judge emphasized the need for supervised visitation to ensure the child’s safety.
Professional Consequences
The legal battle has had professional repercussions for both Paul and Mortensen. Paul’s season of The Bachelorette was canceled due to the resurfaced 2023 altercation, while Mortensen’s career as a reality TV personality has also been affected by the ongoing investigations.
Next Steps
The court will reconvene on April 30 to review the merits of Mortensen’s protective order and Paul’s counter-filing. The outcome of this hearing could determine long-term custody arrangements and legal protections for both parties.