Taylor Frankie Paul: Child Services Files Petition Over Her Kids

Reality TV star Taylor Frankie Paul is facing a new legal battle as Utah's Division of Child and Family Services has filed a petition asking a juvenile court to declare her three children "abused, neglected, or dependent" and order protective supervision. The filing, obtained by TMZ, was submitted this week and requests an expedited hearing.

The petition seeks court jurisdiction over the children of the "Secret Lives of Mormon Wives" star, who share them with ex-husband Tate Paul and ex-boyfriend Dakota Mortensen. It also asks the court to appoint a guardian ad litem to represent the kids and issue any orders deemed in their best interests.

Court documents reference the family's prior interactions with DCFS and ongoing custody disputes involving the children's fathers. This comes months after TMZ published photos of Tate and Dakota crossing paths at a Utah courthouse in March, where both men were separately seeking protective orders against Taylor.

Taylor's legal team responded, saying the move to juvenile court is a common step for families in highly contentious custody cases. They emphasized that Taylor welcomes the added structure and oversight and remains focused on normalizing custody and becoming the healthiest version of herself.

The attorneys added that Taylor is fully committed to doing whatever is necessary and appreciates DCFS's professionalism. The petition was filed by the Utah Attorney General's Office on behalf of DCFS and requests priority scheduling to move the case through juvenile court quickly.

For Taylor, who gained fame through the controversial reality show about Mormon wives, this is another chapter in her ongoing legal saga. She now must prove in court that she can provide a safe and nurturing environment for her children. The outcome could significantly impact her future as a mother and public figure.