NEED TO KNOW
Taylor Frankie Paul shared some emotional updates about her custody situation on her Instagram Stories after a recent voluntary stay in rehab
Earlier this week, her ex-husband Tate Paul, filed for custody of their 8-year-old daughter Indy and 5-year-old son, Ocean
Though the request was denied by the judge, the Secret Lives of Mormon Wives star said she’d spent the day “crying” for her two eldest children after their father took them back
Taylor Frankie Paul has shared some emotional updates about her custody situation in a series of social media posts.
The posts on the Secret Lives of Mormon Wives star’s Instagram Stories come after her recent voluntary stay in a rehabilitation facility.
Meanwhile, Paul’s ex-husband, Tate Paul, filed for a temporary restraining order against her, as well as custody of their 8-year-old daughter Indy and 5-year-old son Ocean, on Tuesday, June 30.
The request was denied, however, with Commissioner Kim Luhn writing in her ruling that “many of the concerns, like the children not doing well in school and expressing sadness, will require ongoing attention not remedied with an emergency order changing custody.”
Tate Paul and Taylor Frankie Paul
Credit: Taylor Frankie Paul/Instagram
However, in the early hours of Friday, July 2, Paul wrote on her Instagram Stories that she “spent the day crying and fighting” for Indy and Ocean.
“They had returned yesterday after being withheld and they were expressing how excited they were to spend this year with me doing fireworks,” the 32-year-old said.
Taylor Frankie Paul’s Instagram Stories
Credit: Taylor Frankie Paul/Instagram
“Their dad even told me we could EXTEND it to Monday so I relayed them the exciting news just for him to take it back?”
She continued, “It was lies to them and gut was wrenching to witness them cry, confused and asking why…”
Taylor Frankie Paul’s Instagram Stories
Credit: Taylor Frankie Paul/Instagram
In an additional post, she appeared to allude to her stay in rehab, suggesting that her ex-husband took their children back as a result. “I had my kids taken for doing the right thing… why would I ever ask for help again?” she asked, claiming that she was “clean” aside from prescription medication and accusing her former partners of being “controlling.”
“This is abuse by proxy,” she alleged.
She then accused an unnamed ex of “coercive control… aka abuse,” claiming, “He begged me to tell him what I went through… He lied, twisted it, and then teamed up with the person that did it to me.”
Dakota Mortensen and Taylor Frankie Paul
Credit: Disney/Fred Hayes
The custody battle comes after a domestic assault investigation concerning herself and her ex-boyfriend, Dakota Mortensen. The investigation pertained to incidents that occurred in February.
Meanwhile, Paul was previously arrested for alleged domestic violence in 2023, pleading guilty in abeyance to aggravated assault.
In March, Mortensen filed for a protective order against Paul, while Paul filed one herself in April — the same month Mortensen was granted custody of their son, Ever True.
A week later, prosecutors confirmed they would not be filing charges against Paul.
Taylor Frankie Paul at a hearing on April 30, 2026
Credit: Bethany Baker/Pool/Getty
At the start of June, Ever’s custody agreement changed, with a judge lifting mandatory supervision of Paul’s time with her son.
The judge also granted her custody of Ever on the same midweek day each week, without overnights, as well as alternating weekends, but said Mortensen would remain the “custodial parent” on holidays.
Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
In further stories, Paul revealed that a police officer had to be present for a child custody exchange with Mortensen as a third party.
“I am not okay because I care, and anyone with a heart would be dying witnessing this for months now,” she said.
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.
Read the original article on People