Taylor Frankie Paul just got a huge win in her ongoing custody battle with Dakota Mortensen!
As you know, the former couple have been locked in a nasty legal dispute over their 2-year-old son Ever Mortensen since the police started investigating them over an alleged domestic violence incident between them in February. Ultimately, Taylor didn’t get charged over what happened. But The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives star’s problems are far from over!
Related: VERY BAD NEWS For Secret Lives Of Mormon Wives Fans!
You see, Dakota filed for a temporary protective order and custody of their child the following month, which a judge granted, along with taking away Taylor’s parent time until they went to court. She also filed for and received a temporary protective order against her baby daddy. In April, the judge granted her supervised time with Ever for eight hours per week while the DadTok member maintained primary custody. Taylor and Dakota then obtained mutual protective orders requiring them to stay 100 feet away from each other for the next three years. With that settled, what remains is the custody issue. And there’s now a major update!
During a virtual hearing on Monday, a judge lifted mandatory supervision for Taylor’s parent time with Ever! He said per Us Weekly:
“I’m encouraged and I think we’re moving in the right direction. From now until the next hearing, I’m going to recommend supervision be lifted.”
The judge also declared the reality star can have her son on alternative weekends and one midweek day that is not overnight each week, adding:
“We want that day to be consistent so we are on a set schedule.”
Wow! That’s huge progress for Taylor!
Dakota will remain the “custodial parent” on holidays. The judge then ordered both Taylor and Dakota to avoid trashing each other, and continue going to therapy and staying 100 feet away from each other:
“I certainly think that both of them have a sense that they are the victims and not the perpetrators and I get that. The main concern of the court is to prevent further acts of domestic violence and we can have the hope that we see the parents being in the same place getting along but now is not that time.”
Taylor must be excited to have more time with Ever. The day before, she expressed on Instagram Stories how much she misses her baby boy, saying:
“I think all the projects and redoing is a fresh start but mainly a coping mechanism to distract from the fact my baby hasn’t been here for months now, aside visits.”
Dakota and Taylor’s next hearing is scheduled for July 8. We’ll see if she earns even more parent time then. Reactions, Perezcious readers? Tell us in the comments (below)!
If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, help is available. Consider calling the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 800-799-7233, or text START to 88788, or go to https://www.thehotline.org/.
[Image via Taylor Frankie Paul/Dakota Mortensen/Instagram]