When parents live over 100 miles apart, the noncustodial parent is provided with options when completing a standard possession order as outlined below. The noncustodial parent has the opportunity to choose between the “default” or “election” option when the terms of your order are being settled.

If your parenting time schedule has already been established by a court, the Child Support Division is unable to modify this portion of your order. However, if the court ordered a standard possession order in your case, the parents can work towards a mutual agreement that works best for your family. (TFC § 153.311) For information about modifying your parenting time schedule, visit Texas Access (txaccess.org).

TFC §§ 153.313, 153.317, 153.316, 153.315, 153.314

Here are some additional parenting time schedules.

50 Miles Apart or Less 51 to 100 Miles Apart

Weekends

Noncustodial parents must choose between either the 1st, 3rd and 5th Fridays of each month or one weekend a month of the noncustodial parent’s choice.

Default:

Pickup on Friday at 6 p.m. and drop-off Sunday at 6 p.m.

Election:

Pickup at the time school is dismissed for the weekend and drop-off at the time school resumes after the weekend during the school term. When school is not in session, pickup on Friday at 6 p.m. and drop-off Sunday at 6 p.m.

Drop-off schedule on a parenting time weekend that is extended by a school holiday or teacher in-service day that falls on a Monday

Default:

Drop-off at 6 p.m. on Monday.

Election:

Drop-off at 8 a.m. on Tuesday.    

Pickup schedule on a parenting time weekend that is extended by a school holiday or teacher in-service day that falls on a Friday

Default:

Pickup at 6 p.m. on Thursday.          

Election:

Pickup at the time school is dismissed on Thursday.

 

Spring Vacation

The noncustodial parent has this parenting time schedule every year during Spring vacation:

Default:

Pickup at 6 p.m. the day school is dismissed for spring vacation and drop-off at 6 p.m. the day before school resumes.

Election:

Pickup at the time school is dismissed for spring vacation and drop-off at 6 p.m. the day before school resumes.

Christmas Break (Even Numbered Years)

The noncustodial parent has this parenting time schedule in even numbered years:

Default:

Pickup at 6 p.m. the day school is dismissed for the Christmas vacation and drop-off at noon on December 28th.

Election:

Pickup at the time school is dismissed for the holiday and drop-off at noon on December 28th.

Christmas Break (Odd Numbered Years)

The noncustodial parent has this parenting time schedule in odd numbered years:

Pickup at noon on December 28th and drop-off at 6 p.m. on the day before school resumes from the vacation.        

Thanksgiving

The noncustodial parent has this parenting time schedule in odd numbered years:

Default:

Pickup at 6 p.m. on the day school is dismissed for Thanksgiving and drop-off at 6 p.m. on the following Sunday.     

Election:

Pickup at the time school is dismissed for Thanksgiving and drop-off at 6 p.m. on the following Sunday.    

Father’s Day

If the father is not otherwise entitled to possession of the child on Father’s Day, he should have the following parenting time:

Default:

Pickup at 6 p.m. on the Friday before Father’s Day and drop-off at 6 p.m. on Father’s Day.

Election:

Pickup at 6 p.m. on the Friday before Father’s Day and drop-off at 8 a.m. on the Monday after Father’s Day.

Mother’s Day

If the mother is not otherwise entitled to possession of the child on Mother’s Day, she should have the following parenting time:

Default:

Pickup at 6 p.m. on the Friday before Mother’s Day and drop-off at 6 p.m. on Mother’s Day.

Election:

Pickup at the time school is dismissed on the Friday before Mother’s Day and drop-off at the time school resumes after Mother’s Day.

Summer Vacation

The noncustodial parent has 42 days of extended parenting time during the summer vacation.

Default:

Pickup at 6 p.m. on June 15 and drop-off at 6 p.m. on July 27.

Election:

The noncustodial parent can pick when this 42-day extended summer parenting time period will occur but must send written notice to the custodial parent by April 1st. The time period may begin no earlier than the day after the child’s school is dismissed for the summer vacation and ending no later than seven days before school resumes at the end of the summer vacation. The extended summer parenting time must be exercised in no more than two separate periods of at least seven consecutive days each, as specified in the written notice. The extended summer parenting time must not interfere with Father’s Day parenting time. These periods of parenting time shall begin and end at 6 p.m. on each applicable day.

Under either of the above options, the custodial parent may pick one weekend for parenting time during this extended summer vacation parenting time period but must send written notice to the noncustodial parent by April 15th with the specific dates. If the summer vacation period of possession by the noncustodial parent is more than 30 days, then the custodial parent may have possession of the child on any 2 nonconsecutive weekends during that period. Pickup at 6 p.m. on Friday and drop-off at 6 p.m. on Sunday. The custodial parent is responsible for picking the child up from the noncustodial parent and returning the child for these selected parenting time period(s). The weekend or weekends cannot interfere with Father’s Day parenting time.

Child’s Birthday

The parent not in possession of the child on the child’s birthday can pick up the child for two hours as follows:         

Pickup at 6 p.m. on the child’s birthday and drop-off at 8 p.m. on the child’s birthday.