Standard Possession Orders

 Posted on December 07, 2017 in Child Custody

In Texas, non-custodial parents have the right to interact with their child at certain times. Although there are several types of visitation orders in Texas, one of the most common is the Standard Possession Order (SPO), which is usually utilized when parents cannot agree on a visitation schedule. Although the SPO was specifically designed to be fair and workable to both parents, this type of schedule is not always in a child’s best interests, so if you are going through a divorce and are unable to reach an out-of-court agreement with your spouse regarding custody and visitation, you should consider speaking with an experienced complex child custody lawyer who can help you find a solution that is best for your family.

SPO Schedules

When couples are unable to come to a custody arrangement, the court steps in and creates an agreement that is in the child’s best interests. In many cases, this takes the form of the Standard Possession Order, which generally provides that the possessory, or non-custodial parent has the right to visitation with their child starting at 6:00 p.m. on the first, third, and fifth Friday of each month. This period of visitation ends at 6:00 p.m. the following Sunday. Additionally, the non-custodial parent is granted visitation with the child every Thursday evening for two hours.

Non-custodial parents are permitted to request an extended version of the SPO schedule, in which case they are granted visitation from the end of the school day on the first, third, and fifth Fridays of every month until school resumes on the following Monday morning. Alternatively, the possessory parent can request access to the child from Thursday evening after school to the next morning. All holidays are divided equally between the parents, with each getting to spend a particular holiday with the child every other year. This includes 30 days with the possessory parent during the summer, or 42 days if the possessory parent does not living within 100 miles of the child. In the latter situation, the non-custodial parent would also be granted visitation with the child every year during spring break.

Although the SPO schedule has proven effective for many families, it is often unworkable for parents who do not live in the same geographic location. In these cases, parties are encouraged to come to a different arrangement. Otherwise, the court will order a modified schedule.

Call for Legal Advice Today

To discuss your case with a skilled and compassionate Round Rock complex child custody lawyer, please call Powers Kerr & Rashidi, PLLC. We are prepared to begin working with you on your case immediately.

Source:

http://www.statutes.legis.state.tx.us/Docs/FA/htm/FA.153.htm