Taylor Frankie Paul has temporarily lost custody of her 2‑year‑old son, Ever, as a Utah judge grants his father, Dakota Mortensen, emergency care and control of the toddler amid an ongoing domestic‑assault investigation. The order bars Paul from seeing Ever for at least several weeks and keeps her 100 feet away from Mortensen and his home until a follow‑up hearing, turning what was once a reality‑TV romance into a tightly watched custody battle.
A judge’s decision to protect a child
Mortensen, who dated Paul on and off from 2022 to 2025, filed a protective order in mid‑March after alleging that Paul choked him, pushed him into a window, and struck him during an incident in February, describing the event as “chaotic” and “terrifying,” according to court documents obtained by TMZ and reported by E! News. He also claimed that on another occasion, he “could not safely exit during the incident, and my child was left inside the home during the turmoil under her supervision due to our custody arrangement.“Mortensen additionally stated in his filing that he “was unable to safely leave while this was happening, and my child had been left inside the home during the chaos under her watch due to our custody agreement,” and that he is “genuinely concerned for my safety and the safety and well‑being of my child.” The judge responded by granting Mortensen temporary custody of Ever at least through early April, with the order specifying that “no parental time is permitted until the hearing takes place,” according to E! News. A hearing is set for April 7, at which Paul will have the opportunity to present her side of the story.
A family’s life under the spotlight
Paul’s representatives have said she is focused on her family’s safety and security, while the Draper City Police Department told People that there is an open “domestic assault investigation” and that “allegations have been made in both directions,” though they declined to share more details while the case unfolds. Prosecutors in Utah have also noted that the new allegations may affect Paul’s current three‑year probation stemming from a 2023 aggravated‑assault charge.In response to the custody shift, Paul’s team has emphasized that she is cooperating fully with authorities and that the situation is deeply painful for her. At the same time, court‑filed statements from Mortensen include lines such as “I truly fear for my safety and the safety of my son” and “I am here to protect my child,” which he said in his filings describing the incident he wants the court to review. The situation has revived scrutiny of how courts balance custody, safety, and the well-being of very young children in the middle of a volatile breakup, especially when one parent is a public figure.
