Tate Paul Files for Restraining Order and Sole Custody Against TikTok Star Taylor Frankie Paul
SALT LAKE CITY, UT — In the latest development of their highly publicized split, Tate Paul, the ex-husband of social media influencer and reality television star Taylor Frankie Paul, has filed for a restraining order and is seeking sole custody of the former couple's two minor children. According to court documents obtained by media outlets, Tate filed the emergency request in a Utah courthouse on Tuesday. The motion marks a sharp escalation in the former couple's ongoing post-divorce legal proceedings, threatening to disrupt what had previously been a structured, shared co-parenting arrangement.
The couple's marriage originally collapsed in mid-2022 following Taylor's viral TikTok revelations regarding "soft swinging" behaviors within their Utah social circle—a scandal that catapulted her to mainstream internet notoriety. Following their subsequent divorce, the two initially agreed to share custody of their young daughter and son. However, legal sources suggest that the intense media spotlight surrounding Taylor's recent casting in the Hulu reality series, The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, alongside her ongoing personal controversies, has strained relations to a breaking point, prompting Tate to seek formal legal intervention.
While the specific catalysts for Tuesday's emergency filing remain sealed, Tate's legal maneuver comes in the wake of Taylor's previous domestic challenges. In February 2023, the influencer was arrested at her Utah home on charges of domestic violence following an altercation with her boyfriend, Dakota Mortensen. Police reports from the incident noted that one of the children was present and was inadvertently struck by a thrown metal chair. Although Taylor eventually reached a plea deal in late 2023 that allowed the felony charges to be dismissed upon completion of probation, the incident remains a critical focal point regarding the safety and environment of the children.
As of Wednesday, representatives for Taylor Frankie Paul have not issued an official statement regarding the restraining order or the custody petition. Under Utah family law, a judge will review the emergency petition to determine if there is a demonstrated risk to the children’s physical or emotional safety before ruling on temporary custody modifications. A formal hearing is expected to be scheduled in the coming weeks to address the long-term custody status and the parameters of the requested restraining order.