Dakota Mortensen Dating During Custody Battle: What We Know About the 'Mormon Wives' Drama

The latest chapter in Dakota Mortensen’s life shows just how messy reality TV can get when real-world legal battles enter the picture. The‘Secret Lives of Mormon Wives’star is now dating Shinia Powell, a friend connected to the show, but the timing coincides with an increasingly complicated custody dispute over his 2-year-old son Ever with ex Taylor Frankie Paul. According to sources close to Mortensen, Powell has provided steady emotional support during a particularly difficult period when his immediate family wasn’t available, and their close friendship naturally evolved into romance.

What makes this story bigger than typical celebrity gossip is the involvement of Utah’s Division of Child and Family Services. In July, the agency filed a petition requesting that the court find Taylor’s three children as abused, neglected, or dependent. This kind of legal action signals serious concerns and marks a significant escalation beyond typical custody disagreements. Mortensen and co-parent Tate Paul released a joint statement expressing deep concern about Taylor’s actions and their commitment to protecting the children and supporting meaningful accountability.

The custody battle itself has been contentious, with both Mortensen and Paul filing protective orders against Taylor in March and April respectively, after allegations of physical violence surfaced. Both parties were granted mutual protective orders. This situation highlights how complicated modern family dynamics can become, especially when children are caught in the middle of conflicting allegations and legal proceedings. What’s your take on how these kinds of disputes should be handled when young kids are involved?