When you divorce in Texas, you and your soon-to-be former spouse can construct your children’s custody arrangement, parenting time and visitation schedule. If you cannot agree on such a plan, however, the Texas Court System explains that the judge in your case will impose the state’s default arrangement in Texas, i.e., the Standard Possession Order.
The SPO envisions two possible post-divorce situations: you and your children’s other parent living within 100 miles of each other and living more than 100 miles apart.
Within 100 miles
Assuming that you become your children’s custodial parent, and assuming further that you live within 100 miles of their noncustodial parent after your divorce, he or she will have visitation at the following times:
- Friday at 6 pm to Sunday at 6 pm on the first, third and fifth weekend of each month
- Thursday from 6 pm to 8 pm during the school year
- Extended visitation during summer vacations
Further than 100 miles
If you and your children’s noncustodial parent choose to live further than 100 miles from each other after your divorce, he or she will have visitation at the following times:
- Friday at 6 pm to Sunday at 6 pm on one weekend each month that he or she chooses
- Extended visitation during summer vacations
- Extended visitation during spring breaks
Major holidays
The noncustodial parent has visitation during your children’s Thanksgiving break in odd-numbered years, while they remain with you during this break-in even-numbered years.
In odd-numbered years, you get your children from the day their school dismisses for Christmas until noon on December 28, and their noncustodial parent gets them from noon on December 28 until 6 pm on the day before they resume classes. This schedule reverses in even-numbered years.