What Type of Schedule Can You Expect in Your Texas Parenting Plan?

 Posted on August 15, 2024 in Child Custody

One of the most critical things a Texas family lawyer must do for his or her clients is to stay informed of any changes that are made to Texas family law statutes. If an attorney is not well-versed in the most current laws, he or she is not able to provide clients with the legal representation they deserve.

The 89th Texas Legislative Session recently made significant changes to the parenting time schedules for custodial and non-custodial parents. The 2024 Texas Standard Possession Order is now in effect and requires a standard schedule for the majority of child custody situations, as long as this schedule is in the best interest of the child.

The schedules are broken into three different categories based on the distance between the co-parents’ homes. The following is a brief overview. For more detailed information and to learn how this schedule could impact your parenting time, call our office for details.

Custody Schedules When Residences Are 50 Miles or Less Apart

If the distance between co-parents’ homes is 50 miles or less, the parenting plan schedule will be as follows under the law:

Weekends

The noncustodial parent will have the child on the first, third, and fifth Friday of each month. Parenting time begins when school is dismissed on Friday and ends when school resumes on Monday morning. When school is not in session, parenting time begins on Friday at 6 pm and ends on Sunday at 6 pm.

During the school term, the non-custodial parent will also have the child every Thursday. Parenting time begins when school is dismissed on Thursday and ends when school resumes on Friday morning. The non-custodial parent can also choose to have parenting time on Thursdays from 6 pm to 8 pm.

Christmas Holiday

In even-numbered years, the child will spend Christmas with the non-custodial parent. Parenting time will begin when school is dismissed for the holiday and end at noon on December 28. On odd-numbered years, the non-custodial parent’s time will begin at noon on December 28 and end at 6 pm on the day before school resumes from the holiday.  

Thanksgiving Holiday

The non-custodial parent will have the child for the Thanksgiving holiday on odd-numbered years, beginning at 6 pm on the day school is dismissed for the holiday and ending on Sunday at 6 pm.

Summer Vacation

Forty-two days of summer vacation – from 6 pm on June 15 until 6 pm on July 27 – are spent with the noncustodial parent as long as that parent sends written notice to the custodial parent by April 1st. There are a number of potential options for this plan that your attorney can go over with you to determine what is the best schedule for your situation.

Spring Vacation

The non-custodial parent will have the child during spring vacation every year, from 6 pm on the day the vacation begins until 6 pm the day before school resumes.

Child’s Birthday

If the child’s birthday falls on a day not on a parent’s scheduled day, he or she will be able to have time with the child for two hours, from 6 to 8 pm.

Mother’s Day

If the child’s scheduled day is with the father, the mother will have the child from 6 pm on the Friday before Mother’s Day until 6 p.m. on Mother’s Day.

Father’s Day

If the child’s scheduled day is with the mother, the father will have the child from 6 pm on the Friday before Father’s Day until 6 pm on Father’s Day.

Custody Schedules When Residences Are More Than 50 Miles Apart

When co-parents live between 51 to 100 miles apart, their schedule is fairly similar to the above parenting time schedule, with more options regarding times of pick-up and drop-offs.

When they live further than 100 miles apart, the non-custodial parent will only have the child one weekend per month, with pick up or drop off extended by one day. Holidays and vacations are the same as outlined above.

Contact a Travis County, TX Family Lawyer for Legal Assistance

If you are going through a child custody case or feel a modification is due for your current order, call Powers Kerr & Rashidi, PLLC at 512-610-6199 to schedule a confidential consultation with one of our dedicated Austin, TX child custody lawyers. We will ensure your parental rights are protected.