Taylor Frankie Paul has closed on the purchase of her first home, a milestone she announced publicly while navigating a period of personal and legal difficulties. The 31-year-old star of "The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives" shared the news on Instagram on Monday, May 18, writing, "Officially a solo home owner and thank you to the best real estate agent in Utah [Liann May, her mother]. I see the sadness through the excitement but I am trying."
Paul posted a video montage set to an instrumental version of The Verve’s 1997 song "Bitter Sweet Symphony," showing her receiving the ceremonial key to the property as confetti fell around her. She had earlier confirmed the purchase in Instagram Stories on May 6, noting that she had "just bought my first house on my own" after renting for years.
The home purchase comes after several months of turmoil for Paul. In March, ABC canceled plans to air her season of "The Bachelorette" three days before its premiere following reports that she and her ex, Dakota Mortensen, were under investigation in Utah for an alleged domestic incident. Production on season 5 of "The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives" was also paused during the inquiry.
Footage from a prior domestic violence incident involving Mortensen surfaced publicly, referencing Paul’s 2023 arrest in that case. She had pleaded guilty to aggravated assault and was placed on probation. The most recent investigation concluded in April when the Salt Lake County District Attorney’s Office declined to file charges against her. Paul responded on Instagram, saying, "Cried when I got the call 🙏 THANK YOU to those that have stood with me."
Mortensen addressed the decision in an April 20 Instagram post, stating he was focusing on their son, Ever, who is 2. "Over the past several weeks, I’ve taken a step back and had time away from the chaos," he wrote. "My focus now is where it should have been all along—on my son and creating a stable, healthy environment for him moving forward." He added that he regretted not stepping away from a difficult cycle sooner and took accountability for his part while disagreeing with some public portrayals of events.
Paul temporarily lost custody of Ever and was granted supervised visitation ahead of a June 1 hearing. Both she and Mortensen received protective orders against each other on April 30. Paul also shares an 8-year-old daughter, Indy, and a 5-year-old son, Ocean, with her ex-husband, Tate Paul.
Her attorney, Eric M. Swinyard, commented on the protective order ruling, saying, "Today’s hearing was a significant step forward as the court entered protective orders requiring that Taylor’s ex-partner stays far away from her." Swinyard noted that Paul was candid with the court about her faults, contrasting with the other party’s presentation despite evidence from law enforcement.
Swinyard continued, "Taylor feels solidarity with the many survivors who have endured similar hardships behind closed doors and shared only part of their stories, and she remains grateful for the outpouring of support she continues to receive." He added that she looks forward to cooperating with the court on the custody case.
Producer Jeff Jenkins confirmed on May 1 that filming for season 5 of the Hulu series will resume soon. When asked about Paul’s potential return, Jenkins said, "I certainly hope [she will film with the other women]. Again, first and foremost, is she healthy of body and mind, then we’ll talk about it." The status of Paul’s planned "Bachelorette" season remains unclear.
Paul has described the home purchase as a step taken independently, highlighting both the excitement and the emotional weight of the moment. The property is located in Utah, where she has long resided and where the recent legal matters unfolded.
Supporters have continued to reach out following the resolution of the latest investigation, according to statements from her legal team. The National Domestic Violence Hotline remains available for those affected by similar situations at 1-800-799-7233.
Paul’s journey to homeownership reflects broader efforts to establish stability after a series of public and private challenges. Details about the specific location or price of the home have not been disclosed in her announcements.