The Utah Division of Child and Family Services has initiated legal proceedings against reality television star Taylor Frankie Paul, filing a petition this week that asks a juvenile court to determine whether her three children require protective supervision under state law.
According to court documents filed Tuesday, July 15, 2026, the state agency is requesting that the court assume jurisdiction over the children Paul shares with her ex-husband Tate Paul and ex-boyfriend Dakota Mortensen. The petition seeks an expedited hearing to address concerns regarding the welfare of the minors.
The filing requests that a judge make a formal determination as to whether the children meet Utah's statutory definition of abused, neglected, or dependent children. Additionally, the Division of Child and Family Services is asking the court to order protective supervision services and appoint a guardian ad litem to represent the children's interests in the proceedings.
The petition references previous involvement between the family and DCFS, as well as ongoing custody disputes involving the fathers of Paul's children. These factors are cited as part of the agency's rationale for seeking court intervention at this time.
The legal action follows events from March 2026, when both Tate Paul and Dakota Mortensen separately appeared at a Utah courthouse seeking protective orders against Taylor Frankie Paul. The two men were photographed crossing paths during their respective court appearances.
Paul, who appears on the reality series "Secret Lives of Mormon Wives," responded to the petition through her legal representatives. Her attorneys characterized the move to juvenile court as a procedural step rather than an escalation of concerns.
"It was recently decided that the ongoing custody actions would be best suited for juvenile court, a common step for families engaged in highly contentious, complex custody matters," Paul's legal representatives told TMZ. "Taylor is not deterred by this transition; she welcomes the added structure and oversight it provides and looks forward to continuing her progress toward normalizing custody and becoming the healthiest version of herself."
The statement continued: "Taylor remains fully committed to doing whatever is necessary to reach that goal and will not be swayed from it. Taylor appreciates the professionalism of DCFS and its representatives."
The Utah Attorney General's Office submitted the petition on behalf of the Division of Child and Family Services. The filing includes a request for priority scheduling to expedite the matter through the juvenile court system.
Juvenile court proceedings involving child welfare matters are typically confidential under Utah law, and specific allegations contained in such petitions are generally sealed to protect the privacy of minor children. The court will schedule a hearing to review the agency's requests and determine what measures, if any, are necessary to ensure the children's safety and well-being.
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Ava Hart
Ava Hart is a pop culture junkie and loves to share what's happening in Hollywood and what trends are taking the world by storm.
