Paul and Mortensen, who share a son, Ever, have had a tumultuous relationship.

Court tells Taylor Frankie Paul’s ex Dakota Mortensen to stop riding motorcycle with 2-year-old son Ever

Paul and Mortensen, who share a son, Ever, have had a tumultuous relationship.

By Marina Watts

Marina Watts

Marina Watts is a news writer for with seven years experience covering entertainment, pop culture and celebrity news. Her previous work appears in PEOPLE, Bustle and Newsweek.

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July 8, 2026 6:44 p.m. ET

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Taylor Frankie Paul and Dakota Mortensen both seen at an April 30 court hearing in Salt Lake City. Credit:

Bethany Baker - Pool/Getty (2)

- Taylor Frankie Paul and Dakota Mortensen have returned to court in Utah this week to discuss their parenting time with their son, Ever.

- The court date comes weeks after it was reported that Paul voluntarily checked into a mental health facility.

- Meanwhile, Paul’s ex-husband, Tate Paul, filed a motion for a temporary restraining order in late June amid their years-long divorce court battle.

Taylor Frankie Paul and Dakota Mortensen have returned to a Utah court to address the parent time for their son, Ever.

During the July 8 hearing, Commissioner Russell Minas made an unexpected recommendation about the 2-year-old: asking Mortensen to not have Ever ride on his motorcycle with him. Paul’s lawyer claimed that Mortensen had taken him on highway rides and through traffic.

According to a photo shown during the hearing by Paul’s lawyer, the toddler sat in front of Mortensen on the bike. Commission Minas said that Ever should only be riding in an enclosed vehicle with “age-appropriate child safety restraints.” The commissioner also pointed out that Ever’s feet didn’t come down to the footrest.

“We’re not going to do that anymore. That’s one thing that’s going to come out of today,” Commissioner Minas said during the virtual hearing. “Not with a 2-year-old.”

As for parent time, Commissioner Minas recommended that the alternating weekend visits can extend from Sunday nights into Monday mornings, giving Paul more time with Ever.

At the previous hearing between Paul and Mortensen on June 1, the commissioner recommended more parent time for the former reality star, which was one weekday (that would not be an overnight stay) that remains consistent for Ever, along with alternating weekends with Mortensen.

“I’m encouraged and I think we’re moving in the right direction,” the commissioner told the former couple.

The mutual protective orders, which were recommended on April 30 that the former couple stay 100 feet apart from each other, remain in place.

Taylor Frankie Paul on ‘The Bachelorette’.

Paul and Mortensen have experienced a tumultuous on-and-off relationship for years documented on the reality show *The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives*, and have a history of alleged domestic violence incidents. They were involved in two domestic violence investigations for two incidents that allegedly happened in February and a third dating back to 2024.

*The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives* paused filming its fifth season amid the investigations. A source told * *that cameras were not rolling at the time of the alleged incidents and that no children were present.

As these investigations went on, footage of the February 2023 altercation between Mortensen and Paul was published by TMZ, which showed the reality star throwing metal chairs. After the video came out, ABC pulled Paul’s season of *The Bachelorette* from airing days before it was slated to premiere.

When the video surfaced, Paul’s rep told * *that it was “sad to see the latest installment of his never-ending, desperate, attention-seeking, destructive campaign to harm Taylor without any regard for the consequences for their child.”

In his own statement, Mortensen said, “As anyone who has seen the video will understand, this is a deeply upsetting situation. I am, unfortunately, used to these baseless claims about me and our relationship, which I categorically deny. I am focusing on our son and his safety, and hope that Taylor will do the same.”

It remains unknown whether the season will air.

'Mormon Wives' producer discusses Taylor Frankie Paul's and Dakota Mortensen's futures with show

Taylor Frankie Paul says she's stepping away from Mormonism: 'It's time to detach myself from it'

More recently, in late June, Paul voluntarily went to a mental health facility. She “checked into a facility upon the recommendation of her doctor,” a source told PEOPLE on June 30. “She’s committed to getting better,” the source added.

Another source told the publication, “the people around Taylor want her to get help,” and that those around Paul “want to see her get better.” “Everyone is just trying to protect the kids,” the second source added.

Paul addressed her rehab stay on her Instagram Stories on July 5: “I knew that I was in a spot to take a step back and be like, ‘OK, we need a reset,’” she said at the time.

“No. 1 priority was just a reset for my mental health and to get away — decompress, whether it’s one day, whether it’s seven, whether it’s 30. I willingly did that. That was my choice,” she wrote.

During the July 8 hearing, Paul’s lawyer noted that she stayed in the mental health facility for a reset for two nights and left voluntarily. She wanted “ample support” and was under the care of the facility’s team.

Dakota Mortensen on ‘The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives’.

Disney/Fred Hayes

Along with Ever, whom she co-parents with Mortensen, Paul shares daughter Indy and son Ocean with her ex-husband, Tate Paul, who filed for a restraining order against the reality star that was denied.

According to documents obtained and reviewed by **, a motion for a temporary restraining order was filed on June 30 in the former couple’s years-long divorce court battle. Tate also filed an affidavit/declaration with five accompanying exhibits.

***Get your daily dose of entertainment news, celebrity updates, and what to watch with our EW Dispatch newsletter.***

*If you are experiencing domestic violence, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233, or go to thehotline.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.*

*If you or someone you know is struggling with substance abuse, please contact the SAMHSA helpline at 1-800-662-HELP.*

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