Domestic violence child custody Ohio cases are taken very seriously by courts, especially when a child’s safety may be at risk.
PUBLISHER’S NOTE: I want to thank Lydia Wagenbach for writing this interesting blog post! Lydia has been clerking with MuesLaw this semester. She is finishing her second year of study at the University of Dayton School of Law. Besides law Lydia, you have the talent to add a side gig working as a reality television show critic! If you liked this post, click here to read the one she wrote on January 17, 2026, titled “Ohio Prenuptial Agreements: What Love is Blind Teaches Couples”. Very well done, Lydia! You are a GREAT writer!
How Domestic Violence Affects Child Custody in Ohio
The reality TV world was recently rocked by a scandal of great proportions. Taylor Frankie Paul, the star of Hulu’s highly successful reality show Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, was all set to star on season 22 of ABC’s reality series The Bachelorette. However, multiple incidents of domestic violence between Taylor and her ex-boyfriend, Dakota Mortensen, brought the highly-anticipated premier to a screeching halt.
Who is Taylor Frankie Paul?
T aylor Frankie Paul, a 31-year-old TikTok influencer, former member of the Church of Latter-Day Saints and mother of three, is known for her messy personal life. In fact, season 1 of TheSecret Lives of Mormon Wives, which aired in 2024, opened with officer-worn body camera footage of a 2023 incident involving Taylor and her ex-boyfriend Dakota, with whom she shares a two-year-old son. That incident led to Taylor’s arrest for domestic violence, as Dakota told officers that she threw a chair at him during a fight. Inexplicably, this arrest seemed to have zero impact on her professional life. Instead, Taylor became the star of Secret Lives, continued to make oodles of money as a TikTok influencer, and, until recently, was set to star as the bachelorette on season 22 of The Bachelorette.
The Domestic Violence Incident
However, Taylor’s success as a reality star and influencer came to a halt when TMZ released graphic video footage – recorded on Dakota’s cellphone – of the 2023 domestic violence incident. The video revealed far more than just a scuffle between the couple. In the video, Taylor can be seen throwing multiple metal chairs at Dakota in a drunken rage. One of the chairs strikes Taylor’s five-year-old daughter, who was present during the entire incident, on the head. In the video, Taylor expresses no remorse or concern after striking her daughter and instead continues to drunkenly berate Dakota.
The Custody Battle
Following the release of the video, ABC announced that that it would be cancelling Taylor’s season of The Bachelorette. Following another domestic violence incident between Taylor and Dakota in February 2026, Dakota was granted temporary custody of their two-year old son. According to this People article, on April 7, 2026, a judge ruled that the toddler would remain in Dakota’s custody, with up to 8 hours per week of supervised visitation for Taylor, in the best interests of the toddler. This arrangement is to remain in effect until the next hearing on April 30.
“Best Interests of the Child” How Domestic Violence Affects Child Custody in Ohioin Ohio Divorce and Custody Cases
As the Secret Lives incident demonstrates, courts take domestic violence incidents seriously when making custody determinations. As a former LDS member and mother of three, Taylor’s social media content focuses heavily on her family and relationships. However, her inability to appropriately co-parent (and get along) with her ex-boyfriend has led to devastating consequences.
In Ohio, courts evaluate numerous factors when determining parental rights and responsibilities in divorce and custody cases. This collection of factors is referred to as the “best interests” of the child. These factors play a critical role in domestic violence child custody Ohio decisions. These factors are laid out in Sections 3109.04(F)(1) and (F)(2) of the Ohio Revised Code and include the following:
- The mental and physical health of all persons involved in the situation;
- Any history of, or potential for, child abuse, spouse abuse, other domestic violence, or parental kidnapping by either parent;
- Whether either parent has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to any criminal offense involving any act that resulted in a child being an abused child or a neglected child; and
- Whether there is reason to believe that either parent has acted in a manner resulting in a child being an abused child or a neglected child.
As the best interest factors demonstrate, courts take domestic violence incidents seriously when making custody determinations. Co-parenting is rarely easy, but domestic violence can have devastating and long-lasting consequences for all parties involved. If you are facing a domestic violence child custody Ohio situation, understanding your rights is essential.
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Lydia Wagenbach is a clerk at the Centerville, Ohio law firm, MuesLaw. She is in her second year of study at the University of Dayton School of Law.