When Your Exes Team Up: Taylor Frankie Paul's Custody War Heats Up

Imagine finding out that two of your exes just joined forces—legally speaking. That’s the reality Taylor Frankie Paul is now facing as her custody battles intensify on multiple fronts. Dakota Mortensen has just hired Steven Russell and Chad Shattuck, the same legal team representing her ex-husband Tate Paul, according to legal documents obtained by TMZ. It’s a strategic move that signals both exes are escalating their fight over parental custody of her three children.

This isn’t a sudden development. The drama has been simmering for weeks. Tate Paul recently asked a judge to take another look at his temporary restraining order request—which was initially denied—and this time he’s bringing alleged incriminating text messages to the table. Meanwhile, Dakota has been taking his own action, calling police last week to raise concerns about how their protective orders apply to custody arrangements and drop-offs involving their son, Ever. The Bluffdale PD contacted Taylor to ensure everyone was on the same page, and the matter has since landed with the district attorney’s office.

What’s particularly interesting is the timing and the apparent coordination. Sources close to Taylor have suggested that Dakota may be orchestrating the attacks, with the renewed intensity allegedly sparked by news that Taylor’s season of The Bachelorette may be airing this month. Whether that’s the real catalyst or not, the picture emerging is one of two separate custody disputes that are now operating with shared legal firepower—and that’s a significant disadvantage for Taylor. Previously, Dakota was working with attorney Joel Kittrell, but the switch to Tate’s long-standing legal team suggests a more serious, coordinated approach.

The stakes here aren’t just about legal strategy or court proceedings. Three children are caught in the middle of a custody dispute that’s playing out in police reports, restraining orders, and now unified legal representation. The district attorney’s involvement adds another layer of complexity. What started as separate custody disputes has the hallmarks of something more consolidated—and that could change how these cases move forward. For Taylor, facing both exes with the same legal representation is exactly the kind of uphill battle that can shift the entire trajectory of family court decisions.