If you follow The Real Housewives of Orange County, you know the drama usually stays on the screen. But for Gina Kirschenheiter and her now-fiancé Travis Mullen, the real chaos has been happening in the Orange County Superior Court. At the center of it is Meghan Mullen, Travis’s ex-wife. While she’s never held an orange or filmed a confessional, her name has become a permanent fixture in the show's universe.
Honestly, the situation is a mess. It’s a tangle of restraining orders, "he-said-she-said" allegations, and a custody battle that just won't quit.
Most people searching for information on Travis's ex are trying to figure out where the hostility comes from. After all, Travis and Gina have been together for six years. They have a blended family of six kids. On the surface, it looked like they had figured out the modern "step-parent" life.
Then everything blew up.
The Reality of the Meghan Mullen Travis Ex Situation
Meghan and Travis Mullen were married back in 2010. They had three kids: Presley, Bennett, and Joseph. By 2016, they called it quits. You’d think by 2026, things would have settled down.
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Nope.
In late 2025, the legal battles reached a fever pitch. Travis actually called the police on Meghan during a custody dispute. He claimed she hadn't let him see one of their sons in weeks. Meghan, on the other hand, argued the child simply didn't want to go. This kind of "gatekeeping" is a nightmare for any co-parent, but when one parent is on a major reality show, it’s a public disaster.
Court documents obtained by various outlets, including Reality Tea and Us Weekly, paint a dark picture. Travis accused Meghan of missing court-ordered drug tests. He even suggested she was "alienating" the children from him. On the flip side, Meghan filed her own claims. She accused Travis of "coercive control" and even alleged he chased her in Gina’s SUV.
Travis denies all of it. He says he was just trying to meet at a restaurant near a police station for a safe exchange.
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Why This Drama Spilled Into RHOC Season 19
For years, Travis was just "the nice guy" in the background of Gina's scenes. He was the stable partner she found after her own traumatic divorce from Matt Kirschenheiter. But by Season 18 and 19, the strain became visible.
Gina and Travis actually moved into separate homes for a while. Why? Because the drama with Meghan Mullen was making Gina feel "unsafe."
The Breaking Point
- Restraining Orders: Travis filed for a temporary restraining order (TRO) against Meghan in 2023. He claimed she was harassing them and even posting alarming things on Instagram.
- The Arrest: At one point, Meghan was arrested for allegedly violating that restraining order.
- The Financials: During Season 19, court filings revealed Travis's monthly expenses and the fact that Gina doesn't pay for his household needs. This was a response to the idea that Gina was "funding" the legal war.
It's heavy stuff. It’s not just "TV drama"; it’s real life affecting six kids who are caught in the middle.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Custody Battle
People often think these things are about one "bad" person. In reality, it’s usually two people who have lost all trust in each other. Meghan has claimed the children are "afraid" of Travis and Gina. She specifically alleged that Gina spoke negatively about her to the kids.
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Gina’s camp calls this "total BS."
In December 2025, Travis finally got a win in court. A judge reinstated his custody of his son, Joseph, and ordered Meghan to have only monitored visitation for a period. The judge also issued a "sobriety" order, stating that if Travis requests a drug test, Meghan has to comply within six hours. If she fails two in a row? She loses custody.
It’s a strict, high-stakes arrangement.
Actionable Insights for Navigating High-Conflict Co-Parenting
If you’re reading this because you’re in a similar "high-conflict" situation, the Mullen saga offers a few grim but necessary lessons.
- Keep it off Social Media: Meghan’s Instagram posts were used as evidence against her in court. If you’re angry, text a friend. Don’t post a Story.
- Documentation is King: Travis won his recent court date because he had a paper trail of missed school days and denied visitation.
- The "Safety" Factor: If things feel volatile, use a police station or a "Safe Exchange" zone for handoffs. It removes the opportunity for "he-said-she-said" accusations about car chases or industrial complexes.
- Parallel Parenting: When co-parenting is impossible, "parallel parenting" (where parents have zero contact and follow a strict schedule) is often the only way to protect the kids.
The story of Meghan Mullen and Travis isn’t over. They are scheduled to be back in court in early 2026 to update the judge. For now, Travis and Gina are engaged and trying to move forward, but as any divorcee knows, the "ex" factor never truly disappears when there are kids involved.
Check your local court records or follow the latest RHOC news cycles if you want to see how the January hearings shake out.