A Texas standard possession order sets the minimum schedule for when each parent has the children. Making that schedule work week to week, with school calendars, holidays, pick-ups and changes, is where most co-parenting conflict happens. Here is how the schedule works and some practical ways to keep it running smoothly.
The basic schedule
For parents who live 100 miles or less apart, the parent who does not have the primary residence generally has (Texas Family Code § 153.312):
- weekends beginning the 1st, 3rd and 5th Friday of each month, from 6 p.m. Friday to 6 p.m. Sunday;
- Thursday evenings from 6 to 8 p.m. during the school year;
- alternating holidays, and 30 days in the summer.
A weekend extends to Monday or begins on Thursday when it touches a school holiday on that day (§ 153.315), and a parent can elect expanded times that run from when school lets out until school resumes (§ 153.317). Holidays override the regular weekends (§ 153.314). See the full schedule on our 2026–27 possession calendar.
Practical tips that prevent conflict
- Put the whole year on a shared calendar now. Fifth Fridays, Thanksgiving, Christmas and spring break are the dates parents most often dispute. Write them down before they arrive.
- Use your school district’s calendar. Many possession periods depend on when school is dismissed or resumes, so each district’s calendar matters.
- Keep communication in writing. Short, civil messages about schedules and the children create a clear record and reduce misunderstandings.
- Confirm changes in writing. Parents can agree to swap weekends, but an informal agreement does not change the court order. Confirm any swap in writing.
- Give notice on time. Some elections, such as the summer period, require written notice by deadlines in the order. Missing a deadline can mean losing the choice.
Tools that can help
Attorney Jesus R. Lopez created Kindline, a co-parenting app that helps parents keep schedules and communication in one place. Whether you use Kindline or another tool, a shared, written record of the schedule and your messages helps avoid disputes and is useful if you ever need to go back to court.
When the schedule is not working
If one parent regularly denies possession, a court can enforce the order. If circumstances have changed materially and substantially, such as a move, a new work schedule or a change in the child’s needs, a parent can ask the court to modify it if the change is in the child’s best interest (§ 156.101). Read more about enforcement and modifying a custody order.
Talk with an attorney
If you have questions about custody, visitation or your possession schedule, call the Law Offices of Jesus R. Lopez at (210) 224-5245 or send us a message to schedule a consultation, in English or Spanish.
This article is general information about Texas law, not legal advice for your situation. Contacting us does not create an attorney-client relationship. Results depend on the facts of each case.