October Standard Possession Schedule in Texas

Hello everyone, and welcome to October—the month of Halloween, one of the most exciting times of the year! For families in Texas following the Standard Possession Order, let’s break down what the October schedule looks like, covering custodial and non-custodial weekends, Thursday possessions, and any specific holiday arrangements.

Understanding the October Possession Schedule

In Texas, the Standard Possession Order (SPO) guides visitation schedules for custodial and non-custodial parents. In this post, we’ll walk through each weekend and holiday for October to help parents prepare for the month ahead. We’ll also address some common questions about Halloween and other holidays.

• Custodial Parent: The parent who has primary custody and is typically in charge of day-to-day care.
• Non-Custodial Parent: The parent who has scheduled visitations under the SPO.

In this schedule:

• Blue: Custodial parent’s days
• Yellow: Non-custodial parent’s days
• Red: Holidays or special days

Thursday Visitations

For October, the non-custodial parent has the following Thursdays:

• October 3
• October 10
• October 17
• October 24
• October 31 (Halloween)

Each Thursday, the non-custodial parent has the right to pick up their child for a brief visit, typically from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., unless the order specifies otherwise.

Weekend Possession in October

The weekend schedule is split by the first, third, second, and fourth Fridays:

• First Weekend (Friday, October 4): This is the non-custodial parent’s weekend starting Friday, October 4.
• Second Weekend (Friday, October 11): The custodial parent has possession this weekend.
• Third Weekend (Friday, October 18): The non-custodial parent has possession starting Friday, October 18.
• Fourth Weekend (Friday, October 25): The custodial parent will have this weekend.

This weekend arrangement ensures an alternating schedule, giving both parents time with their child.

Columbus Day

This October, Columbus Day falls within the custodial parent’s weekend, so it does not affect the possession schedule. If a school holiday lands on a custodial weekend, there’s no change in the schedule, and the custodial parent will have the child through that holiday.

Halloween and the SPO

Halloween is an exciting day for families, and some Texas court orders include a specific Halloween provision, allowing one parent to have visitation for trick-or-treating or other activities. However, not all orders have a Halloween clause—it’s important to check your court order for this detail.

In the absence of a specific Halloween clause, the standard order still applies. This year, Halloween falls on Thursday, October 31, so it becomes part of the non-custodial parent’s regular Thursday visitation.

A Quick Summary

October’s possession schedule is straightforward under the Texas Standard Possession Order:

• Thursdays are with the non-custodial parent.
• First and third weekends belong to the non-custodial parent, while second and fourth weekends go to the custodial parent.
• Columbus Day falls on the custodial parent’s weekend and does not affect the schedule.
• Halloween is with the non-custodial parent this year, unless the court order states otherwise.

Following this pattern will help you stay organized and ensure your October runs smoothly. Remember to refer to your court order if you have questions about specific provisions.

See you next month for November’s schedule breakdown!