Taylor Frankie Paul and Dakota Mortensen will have to face off in court ... after both being instructed to appear over his request for a restraining order, TMZ has learned.

The embattled exes are scheduled to remotely appear for a hearing on April 7, where they'll be discussing custody and "parent time provisions" ... according to court docs obtained by TMZ.

Remember ... Taylor has temporarily lost custody of their 2-year-old son, Ever -- thanks to a temporary protective order Dakota was awarded last month.

The new court papers say TFP and her baby daddy have also been ordered to appear remotely at a court hearing on April 30 to go over the "merits and entry" of Dakota's PO against the 'Secret Lives of Mormon Wives' star.

Dakota filed for the protective order over a "chaotic" and "frightening" incident where Taylor allegedly choked him, scratched him and ripped a necklace from his neck.

As we previously reported ... police documents say Dakota stayed silent about the February altercation for weeks because of his ex's high public profile.