Understanding November’s Texas Standard Possession Schedule

Hello everyone! As we head into the end of the year, it’s time to review November under the Texas Standard Possession Order (SPO). This month includes a major holiday—Thanksgiving—and we’ll go over how it impacts the possession schedule for custodial and non-custodial parents.

Here’s a breakdown of the November 2024 schedule to help parents stay informed and organized.

November Possession Schedule

In this guide:

• Custodial Parent: Days marked in blue
• Non-Custodial Parent: Days marked in yellow

Thursday Visitations

For November, the non-custodial parent will have the following Thursdays:

• November 7
• November 14
• November 21

These are the standard Thursday possession days as outlined by the SPO. On each of these Thursdays, the non-custodial parent is entitled to a brief visit, usually from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., unless the court order specifies different hours.

Weekend Possession for November

Under the Texas SPO, November is broken down as follows:

• First Weekend (Friday, November 1): This weekend belongs to the non-custodial parent.
• Second Weekend (Friday, November 8): The custodial parent has possession.
• Third Weekend (Friday, November 15): The non-custodial parent has possession.

Typically, the custodial parent would also have the fourth weekend (Friday, November 22). However, this month includes a major holiday—Thanksgiving—which impacts the schedule.

Thanksgiving Holiday in 2024

Thanksgiving is a significant holiday in Texas SPOs, and this year it falls on the custodial parent’s time since it is an even year (2024). Here’s how this affects possession:

• Custodial Parent’s Thanksgiving Possession: From Friday, November 22 through Sunday, December 1, the custodial parent will have continuous possession.

This extended Thanksgiving possession replaces the standard fourth weekend schedule and overwrites the weekend of November 22-24 as well as the fifth weekend, which would have started on Friday, November 29. This means:

• The custodial parent’s possession begins on November 22 and continues through December 1 without interruption.
• The non-custodial parent’s usual Friday possession on November 29 is skipped because Thanksgiving possession takes priority.

Holiday Rules: How Thanksgiving Overwrites Weekend Possession

Under the Texas SPO, holidays like Thanksgiving take precedence over standard weekends and Thursday visitations. So, while November typically includes a five-Friday schedule, with both a first and a fifth weekend, the Thanksgiving holiday trumps these standard possession days. As a result, the custodial parent has the entire Thanksgiving break.

November Summary

November’s Texas SPO is relatively straightforward aside from the Thanksgiving break:

• Non-Custodial Parent Thursdays: November 7, 14, and 21
• First and Third Weekends: November 1 and 15 for the non-custodial parent
• Thanksgiving Break (Custodial Parent): November 22 – December 1, covering Thanksgiving and eliminating the non-custodial parent’s fifth Friday possession on November 29.

With Thanksgiving on the horizon, it’s a good time to review these provisions so that each family is on the same page. And as always, be sure to check your court order for any unique clauses related to holidays.

Enjoy a happy and peaceful Thanksgiving!