23 Mar Summer Is Coming: How to Prepare Your Custody Schedule Before School Lets Out in Texas
Summer should be a time for fun, rest, and making memories with your kids. But for co-parents in Texas, the weeks before school lets out can bring a lot of questions and stress. Who gets the children and when? What happens to the regular schedule? What if your current arrangement is not working anymore?
The good news is that Texas law provides a clear framework for summer custody. And even if summer is right around the corner, there are still important steps you can take right now to protect your time with your children and reduce conflict before it starts.
How the Texas Standard Possession Order Handles Summer
If your custody arrangement follows the Texas Standard Possession Order, also known as the SPO, summer works differently than the rest of the year.
During the school year, the noncustodial parent typically has the children on the first, third, and fifth weekends of each month, along with Thursday evenings. But when summer arrives, that schedule changes significantly.
Under the SPO, the noncustodial parent is entitled to 30 days of extended summer possession. This is a block of time separate from the regular weekend schedule, and it gives the noncustodial parent meaningful time with their children over the summer months.
A Deadline Worth Knowing for Next Year
Texas law requires the noncustodial parent to provide written notice to the other parent by April 1st if they want to choose their specific 30 days of extended summer possession. The custodial parent then has until April 15th to designate one weekend during that period to have the children returned to them.
If you were not aware of those deadlines this year, you are not alone. Many parents miss them simply because no one told them the rules. Now you know, and next year you will be ready. Mark April 1st on your calendar now so it does not sneak up on you again.
Even if the notice deadline has passed for this summer, your rights under the SPO do not disappear. Understanding exactly what your order says is the first and most important step you can take right now.
What You Can Still Do Right Now
Missing the April 1st deadline does not mean you are out of options. Here is what co-parents can and should be doing in the weeks before school lets out.
Review your current custody order. Pull out your divorce decree or custody order and read the summer possession section carefully. Many parents have never read their order closely enough to understand exactly what it allows. Knowing your rights is the foundation of everything else.
Communicate with your co-parent in writing. Even if your co-parenting relationship is difficult, reaching out now to discuss summer plans gives both of you time to work through disagreements before they become emergencies. Whatever you agree to, put it in writing. Text messages or emails work fine. A verbal agreement is much harder to enforce if a dispute comes up later.
Think about your children’s summer plans. Camp, travel, family visits, and summer programs all need to be factored into the custody schedule. The earlier both parents are on the same page, the less room there is for conflict.
Document everything. If your co-parent is not following the custody order or is making summer planning difficult, keep a record. Write down dates, times, and what was said or done. That documentation matters if the situation escalates.
What If Your Current Order Is Not Working?
Life changes. The custody arrangement that made sense when your divorce was finalized may not reflect your family’s reality today. Maybe you have changed jobs, moved to a new area, or your children’s needs have shifted. If your current order is no longer working, now is actually a good time to address it.
Texas law allows either parent to request a modification to a custody order when there has been a material and substantial change in circumstances. If you believe your arrangement needs to be updated, speaking with a family law attorney now gives you the best chance of getting changes in place before the summer gets away from you.
Do Not Wait Until There Is a Problem
The most common mistake co-parents make is waiting until a dispute has already started before reaching out for help. At that point, options become limited, and emotions run high.
Planning ahead protects your time with your children. It also reduces stress for everyone in the family, especially the kids.
At Navarrette Family Law, we help Texas parents understand their rights under the Standard Possession Order and navigate summer custody before it becomes a source of conflict. Whether you have questions about your current order or need to pursue a modification, we are here to help.
Schedule a consultation with our team today and go into summer with a clear plan in place.
The information in this blog is for general educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Every case is different. Contact our office to discuss your specific situation.