The Standard Possession Order, often shortened to “SPO,” is the default visitation schedule in Texas. Most custody orders signed in New Braunfels and across Comal County use it as their starting point, either word for word or with changes the parents negotiate. The Texas Family Code presumes this schedule is the right minimum time for the parent who does not have primary residence of a child age 3 or older (§§ 153.252, 153.312–153.317). Below, our family law team walks through how it works. Your own order, not this summary, is what controls, so always read the exact language you signed.
The Basic Structure
The SPO gives the parent without primary residence (often called the “possessory” or “non-primary” parent) time in four layers:
- Weekends during the whole year
- Weekday time during the school year
- Holidays that rotate between parents
- Extended summer time
The other parent has the child at all other times.
Weekends: 1st, 3rd and 5th
The non-primary parent has the child on the first, third and fifth weekends of each month. The weekend is counted by Fridays: the first Friday of the month starts the first weekend, even if that Friday falls on the 1st and the Saturday on the 2nd.
Under the basic statutory schedule, a weekend generally runs from Friday evening (6:00 p.m.) to Sunday evening (6:00 p.m.). Many orders, especially for parents living within 50 miles of each other, use the expanded times instead: pickup when school lets out on Friday and return when school resumes Monday morning. Since September 1, 2021, the expanded times are the default for parents within 50 miles unless a parent elects otherwise or the court finds they are not in the child’s best interest. See our page on expanded standard possession for the details.
Weekend extensions
When a weekend touches a student holiday or teacher in-service day on the Friday or Monday, the weekend usually extends to include that day. This often matters for local school calendars with Monday holidays. Check the precise wording, because orders define these extensions in specific terms.
Thursdays During the School Year
During the regular school term, the non-primary parent typically has a Thursday period every week. In the basic schedule this is an evening visit, commonly 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. In the expanded schedule it usually becomes an overnight, from school dismissal Thursday to school resumption Friday. Thursday time generally does not apply during summer.
Holidays
Holidays override the regular weekend and Thursday schedule. The SPO rotates the major holidays between parents by even and odd years:
- Thanksgiving alternates each year.
- Christmas break is split in half, with the halves swapping each year.
- Spring break alternates for parents living within 100 miles.
- Mother’s Day and Father’s Day weekends go to the matching parent every year.
- The child’s birthday gives the parent who does not have the child that day a short visit.
Holidays like Easter, Halloween and the Fourth of July are not part of the standard order. Parents can add them by agreement. Our holiday schedule page covers exact rotations and the questions that come up most.
Summer Possession
For parents living 100 miles or less apart, the non-primary parent is entitled to 30 days of extended summer possession. That parent can choose the dates by giving written notice by a deadline in the spring (April 1 in the standard order). If no notice is given, the order sets default dates in July.
The primary parent also gets some say. With timely notice (April 15 in the standard order), the primary parent can choose one weekend during the other parent’s summer time, and can designate weekends for their own summer.
For parents more than 100 miles apart, the summer period increases to 42 days. Details on notice and limits vary, so read your order’s summer section closely.
How Distance Changes the Schedule
The SPO has different rules depending on how far apart the parents live:
| Distance between residences | Key differences |
|---|---|
| 50 miles or less | Expanded pickup and return times are the default (since Sept. 1, 2021) |
| 100 miles or less | 1st/3rd/5th weekends, Thursdays, alternating spring break, 30 summer days |
| More than 100 miles | Choice of 1st/3rd/5th weekends or one weekend per month with notice; spring break every year; 42 summer days; usually no Thursday visits |
A move from New Braunfels to Houston or Dallas can therefore change the schedule automatically. Read more on long-distance parenting.
Exchanges and Notice
The standard terms generally have the parent beginning a possession period pick the child up from the other parent’s home or from school, and then set out how and where the child is returned. Many local orders replace these terms with a neutral exchange spot, curbside pickup only, or exchange at school whenever possible.
The order also covers notice, such as how far in advance a parent must give written notice of summer dates or of an election for a different schedule. If your exchanges are a recurring source of conflict, the exchange terms are often worth changing.
Why It Is Called a “Minimum”
The SPO describes the time a court presumes is appropriate for the non-primary parent, but it is not a ceiling. Parents can agree to more time, including a true 50/50 schedule such as week-on/week-off or 2-2-5-5. A judge can also order something other than the SPO if the evidence shows a different schedule serves the child better, and must explain the reasons if a party asks.
Standard Possession for New Braunfels Families: Practical Tips
- Print a calendar for the year. Mark the 1st, 3rd and 5th Fridays, then layer holidays on top. Five-Friday months surprise people every time.
- Match the order to real life. If a parent works shifts at a hospital or a plant along I-35, ask whether exchanges at 6:00 p.m. are realistic.
- Think about school. If the child attends school in Comal ISD and one parent lives in Seguin or San Marcos, morning returns under an expanded schedule mean an early drive.
- Use a co-parenting app to log exchanges and agreed changes. See our co-parenting guide.
Talk With a New Braunfels Custody Lawyer
A standard order looks simple until a holiday lands on a fifth weekend or a summer notice is missed. We help Comal County parents draft schedules that fit their families and enforce the ones already in place. Call (830) 302-4071 for a free consultation by phone, video or in person. Hablamos español.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Standard Possession Order the same as 'every other weekend'?
Not quite. It follows the 1st, 3rd and 5th weekends of each month, not alternating weekends. In months with five Fridays, the parent with the standard schedule gets two weekends in a row.
Can parents follow a different schedule than the order?
Yes. Most Texas orders let parents agree to other times. When parents cannot agree, the written schedule controls. Keep agreements in writing, because a verbal deal is hard to prove later.
Does the Standard Possession Order apply to babies and toddlers?
The statute presumes it is appropriate for children 3 and older. For younger children, the court sets a schedule based on the child’s age and circumstances. See our page on children under three.
Who drives the children for exchanges?
Your order decides. The standard terms generally have the parent starting a possession period pick the child up, and they spell out how the child is returned, but many orders change this to fit the family. Read the exchange section of your own order.
If my ex stops paying child support, can I withhold visits?
No. In Texas, possession and child support are separate duties. Withholding the child can expose you to enforcement, and unpaid support is addressed through support enforcement.
Last reviewed November 13, 2026. General information only, not legal advice.