The Utah Division of Child and Family Services (DCFS) has filed a petition with a juvenile court, seeking protective supervision for the three children of reality television personality Taylor Frankie Paul. The agency's filing asserts that the children may be 'abused, neglected or dependent,' prompting a request for an expedited hearing.
The children involved are eight-year-old Indy and six-year-old Ocean, from Paul's previous marriage to Tate Paul, and two-year-old Ever, from a relationship with ex-boyfriend Dakota Mortensen. The DCFS petition requests a judge to determine if the children meet the legal criteria for protective supervision and potential involvement of a guardian ad litem to represent their interests.
According to legal documents, the petition was filed by the Utah Attorney General in coordination with DCFS. The filing also noted Paul's past interactions with the agency and ongoing custody disputes. Representatives for Paul and the Utah DCFS had not responded to requests for comment at the time of this report.
Paul's representatives stated that she is not deterred by the proceedings and welcomes the additional structure and oversight that juvenile court may provide. They indicated that Paul is committed to her progress toward normalizing custody and becoming a healthier version of herself, appreciating the professionalism of DCFS.
Marnie Maxwell, a program administrator for Utah DCFS, explained in March that the agency's role is to assess the overall safety of children. This assessment can include current home conditions as well as a review of the family's history. Maxwell noted that removing a child from their home is a last resort, and the agency aims to provide safety while keeping children with their families whenever possible. Measures can include safety planning and involving formal and informal support systems. If children are removed, they are typically sent to counseling. Maxwell emphasized that issues of potential abuse or neglect affect all types of families, underscoring the importance of awareness and access to resources.
The petition's filing comes after a public incident in March where a video surfaced showing Paul in a confrontation with Mortensen, with her minor daughter present. This event led to the abrupt shelving of Paul's season of 'The Bachelorette' by ABC prior to its premiere.