Texas families do not stay put. A parent takes a job in Dallas, a military transfer sends a family to another state, or a new spouse lives in the Rio Grande Valley. When parents end up far apart, the custody schedule has to change with them. For New Braunfels and Comal County parents, the important line is 100 miles: the Texas Standard Possession Order works differently once parents live farther apart than that. This page explains the long-distance rules and how a family law attorney can help build a plan that works for a child who travels between two homes.
The 100-Mile Line
The Standard Possession Order has two main versions:
- 100 miles or less: first, third and fifth weekends; Thursday visits during school; alternating spring break; 30 days of summer.
- More than 100 miles: a different package that trades frequent short visits for fewer, longer ones.
For perspective, New Braunfels is well within 100 miles of San Antonio, Austin and most of the Hill Country. Houston, Dallas, Corpus Christi and the Valley are generally farther. Distance is measured between the parents’ residences, so check the actual mileage rather than guessing.
What the Long-Distance Schedule Usually Includes
When parents live more than 100 miles apart, the standard order generally gives the non-primary parent:
| Feature | Long-distance standard terms (general) |
|---|---|
| Weekends | A choice between first, third and fifth weekends, or one weekend per month chosen with advance written notice |
| Thursday visits | Generally not included |
| Spring break | Every year |
| Summer | 42 days, with notice rules |
| Holidays | Thanksgiving and Christmas still rotate |
The exact notice deadlines and limits are in the order, so read yours carefully. Many families negotiate changes, such as moving the weekend to a three-day holiday weekend to make travel worthwhile.
The one-weekend-per-month option
Many long-distance parents choose one weekend a month, picked with notice. That allows the parent to plan around work and travel costs. Others keep the first, third and fifth weekends because they can manage the drive and want the time.
Summer
The extra summer time, 42 days rather than 30, is meant to give the long-distance parent a meaningful stretch of daily parenting. The order may let the primary parent reserve a weekend during that time. Notice deadlines in spring matter, so put them on your calendar.
Travel Terms That Prevent Fights
A long-distance order lives or dies on its travel provisions. Good orders answer these questions:
- Who transports the child, and does that change by period?
- Where are exchanges? A common choice is a halfway point, such as a gas station or public place along I-35 or I-10.
- Who pays for gas, flights and baggage fees?
- Can the child fly alone, and at what age? Who escorts the child to the gate?
- Which airports are used? San Antonio and Austin are both reasonable from New Braunfels, so pick one.
- What happens if a flight is canceled or weather closes the highway?
- How much notice must each parent give before booking travel?
For example, imagine parents with one in New Braunfels and one in Fort Worth. They might agree to meet halfway on most weekends, have the Fort Worth parent pick up for summer and spring break, and split airfare if a holiday requires flying. Writing that down now avoids an argument at the gate later.
Staying Connected Between Visits
Distance makes everyday contact even more important. Texas orders can include electronic communication terms that give the long-distance parent reasonable phone or video time at set times, such as a few evenings a week. Helpful ideas include:
- a regular video call time that fits the child’s bedtime routine
- shared access to school portals and sports schedules
- reading a bedtime story over video
- mailing letters or small packages
The primary parent should support this contact. A pattern of blocking calls can become an issue in later modification or enforcement proceedings.
When the Distance Comes From a Move
If parents already have an order and one parent wants to move, the first question is whether the order has a geographic restriction. Many Texas orders limit the child’s primary residence to a defined area, often a county and the counties next to it. A primary parent who moves the child outside that area without a court order or written agreement risks enforcement.
Moving cases involve their own analysis. See our relocation page.
If the non-primary parent moves away, the child’s residence usually stays put, but the schedule may shift to long-distance terms and travel issues need attention.
Long-Distance Parenting for New Braunfels Military and Commuter Families
Our area has many families connected to Joint Base San Antonio and many parents whose jobs move them around Texas. Military families face special issues, including deployment and temporary duty. Texas law has provisions addressing a conservator’s military deployment, including ways to designate someone to exercise possession during deployment in appropriate cases. Planning these terms ahead of time can protect the military parent’s relationship with the child.
For Comal County parents considering a job offer elsewhere, talk to a lawyer before you accept. The custody consequences can be significant, and timing matters.
Choosing Between Weekend Options
Long-distance parents often ask which weekend option to choose. Consider:
- Travel time and cost. If each round trip takes most of a day, one longer monthly weekend may be better for the child than several rushed ones.
- The child’s activities. A child with Saturday sports may miss games under either option, so think about attending them rather than taking the child away.
- Your work schedule. Picking a weekend each month with advance notice can make it easier to plan around rotating shifts.
- School holidays. Three-day weekends and teacher in-service days can make a monthly visit more worthwhile.
Whatever you choose, keep the election in writing and follow the notice rules in your order. A missed notice deadline can mean losing a period of possession.
Talk With a Comal County Custody Lawyer
Distance does not have to weaken a parent-child relationship, but it does require a clear plan. We help New Braunfels families build long-distance schedules, travel terms and communication plans that work. Call (830) 302-4071 for a free consultation by phone, video or in person. Atendemos en español.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who pays for travel in a long-distance custody case?
The order decides. Some orders split costs, some assign them to the parent who moved, and some tie them to income. If the order is silent, disputes are common, so it is worth spelling out.
Can my child fly alone to visit the other parent?
Airlines have their own unaccompanied-minor rules and age limits. Your order can say whether the child may fly alone, who books flights and which airports are used. Without that language, parents often end up arguing at the last minute.
Does living far away lower my child support?
Not automatically. Texas guideline support is based on net resources and the number of children. A court may consider travel costs as a reason to deviate from guidelines in some cases. See how support is calculated.
Do I lose my Thursday visits if I move more than 100 miles away?
Generally, yes. The long-distance version of the standard order does not include the weekly Thursday period, because it is not practical. Video calls and longer holiday and summer periods are meant to make up some of the difference.
Last reviewed November 13, 2026. General information only, not legal advice.