What is standard visitation?

Most Texas possession orders state that possession of the children is as agreed by the parties, but absent an agreement then according to a Standard Possession Order. In other words, the parties can by themselves agree to a possession schedule that suits them best, but have the Standard Possession Order as a fallback provision.

In summary, standard possession is generally as follows:

Under 100 miles standard possession order - (1) the weekends beginning with the first, third, and fifth Friday of each month, beginning at 6 P.M. and ending the following Sunday at 6 P.M. (and if school is out on the Friday or Monday around that weekend, the possession extends to also cover that day); (2) Thursday nights during the school year, beginning at 6 P.M. and ending at 8 P.M.; (3) every other Spring Break and Thanksgiving break, beginning at 6 P.M. on the date the break begins and ending on the Sunday at the end of the break at 6 P.M.; (4) Christmas break in years when the parent does not have Thanksgiving break, beginning at 6 P.M. on the day school is released for Christmas break and ending at noon on December 26th; (5) Christmas break in years when the parent does have Thanksgiving break, beginning at noon on December 26th and ending on the Sunday at the end of the break at 6 P.M.; (6) from 6 P.M. until 8 P.M. on the child's birthday (if you do not already have the child); (7) 30 days in the summer (except for one weekend during those days) as stated in your notice, or without notice from July 1 at 6 P.M. until July 31 at 6 P.M.; and (8) the weekend of Father's Day or Mother's Day, beginning at 6 P.M. and ending the following Sunday at 6 P.M.

Over 100 miles standard possession order - (1) either the same as the weekend visitation for under 100 miles stated above, or one weekend per month of the visiting person's choice with 14 days prior notice; (2) every Spring Break, beginning at 6 P.M. on the date the break begins and ending on the Sunday at the end of the break at 6 P.M.; (3) every other Thanksgiving break, beginning at 6 P.M. on the date the break begins and ending on the Sunday at the end of the break at 6 P.M.; (4) Christmas break in years when the parent does not have Thanksgiving break, beginning at 6 P.M. on the day school is released for Christmas break and ending at noon on December 26th; (5) Christmas break in years when the parent does have Thanksgiving break, beginning at noon on December 26th and ending on the Sunday at the end of the break at 6 P.M.; (6) from 6 P.M. until 8 P.M. on the child's birthday (if you do not already have the child); (7) 42 days in the summer (except for one or two weekends during those days) as stated in your notice, or without notice from June 15 at 6 P.M. until July 27 at 6 P.M.; and (8) the weekend of Father's Day or Mother's Day, beginning at 6 P.M. and ending the following Sunday at 6 P.M.

The Standard Possession Order may also be expanded if requested by the visiting parent for possession to begin at the time school ends instead of that day at 6 P.M. and for possession to end when school resumes after the weekend instead of Sunday at 6 P.M. This is commonly referred to as Expanded Standard.