The Texas SPO Calendar helps parents understand possession schedules in Texas child custody cases.

When parents separate or divorce, one of the most important issues to address is how parenting time with the children will be shared. In Texas, the Standard Possession Order (“SPO”) is the schedule commonly used by courts to determine possession and access when parents do not live together.

The Texas Standard Possession Order is designed to provide children with frequent and continuing contact with both parents while creating a predictable schedule families can follow throughout the year.

What Is a Texas Standard Possession Order?

Under the Texas Family Code, the Standard Possession Order outlines when the non-custodial parent has possession of the child. While every case is different, the SPO often serves as the starting point in Texas child custody cases.

For parents who live within 50 miles of each other, the schedule may include expanded possession periods. For example, different provisions may apply when parents live more than 50 or 100 miles apart.

Typical Texas SPO Schedule

A typical Texas Standard Possession Order may include:

• 1st, 3rd, and 5th weekends of each month
• Thursday possession periods during the school year
• Alternating holidays, including Thanksgiving and Christmas
• Alternating Spring Break possession
• Extended summer possession for the non-custodial parent

Many parents refer to this schedule as the “Texas custody calendar” or “Texas SPO calendar.”

Download the 2026 Texas SPO Calendar

To help parents better understand the schedule, The Quander Law Firm has prepared a 2026 Texas Standard Possession Order Calendar outlining common possession periods and important possession-related deadlines.

The Texas SPO Calendar provides parents with a helpful overview of common Texas possession schedules throughout the year.

This calendar is intended as a general reference tool and may not reflect the exact terms of your court order.

Important Things Parents Should Know About the Texas SPO Calendar

However, not every Texas SPO Calendar or Standard Possession Order is identical. Possession schedules can vary depending on:

• The child’s age
• Distance between the parents’ homes
• School schedules
• Prior court orders
• Agreements between the parents
• Expanded Standard Possession elections

Additionally, holiday schedules and summer possession periods may differ depending on whether parents timely designate their preferred dates.

Can Parents Agree to a Different Texas SPO Possession Schedule?

Yes. Furthermore, parents are often able to agree to customized possession schedules that better fit their family’s needs and routines. Courts generally encourage parents to work together to create schedules that are in the best interest of their children.

However, it is important that any agreed schedule be clearly written and properly incorporated into a court order.

How a Texas Family Law Attorney Can Help

A Texas SPO Calendar can help parents better understand recurring possession schedules, holidays, and summer visitation periods.

Child custody and possession schedules can become complicated, especially when parents disagree about visitation, holiday schedules, summer possession, or modifications to an existing order.

An experienced Texas family law attorney can help parents:

• Understand the Texas Standard Possession Order
• Negotiate customized possession schedules
• Enforce existing custody orders
• Request modifications when circumstances change
• Address disputes regarding possession and access

Reviewing a Texas SPO Calendar can help parents better understand weekends, holidays, and summer possession periods.

Contact The Quander Law Firm

If you have questions about a Texas Standard Possession Order, child custody schedule, or modification case, The Quander Law Firm assists clients throughout Houston and the surrounding counties in family law matters.

To schedule a consultation, contact The Quander Law Firm at (832) 930-7139.

Attending school can be an exciting time for everyone, but the experience can quickly become dreadful when parents use the school as a battleground for conflict. Especially when there are step-parents in the picture.

Ultimately, the primary concern of parents should be ensuring that the children are raised in a loving, supportive, and healthy environment. The interaction between parents is visible to not only school administrators, but to other parents and students as well. The last thing that your children want is to feel ashamed and embarrassed by the actions of their parents. Therefore, it is important to minimize conflict and unnecessary arguments.

Whether you are a newly divorced couple or the parent of a blended family, the following tips can increase your chances of having a successful school year:

Parenting Plan. Each parent should actively engage in designing, implementing, and complying with a personalized parenting plan. This plan should serve as a guide that sets forth the conditions and terms of each parent’s responsibilities, and will likely prevent any “misunderstandings.”

School Work Accountability. Determine who will be responsible for keeping up with the children’s progress reports and ensuring that all work is being completed and turned in on time. Establish which subject each parent will assist with. (For example, mom may assist with math and dad may assist with English). Designating each parent with a subject will lessen the load of each parent and encourage academic success for the children.

Weekday/Weekend Visitation Preparation: Establish available dates for weekday and weekend visitation periods and each parent should calendar these dates. (Obviously, if there is a court ordered visitation schedule in place, adhere to and comply with it). To ensure a smooth start to the visitation periods, make sure that the school is aware of who will be picking the children up from school. It can be very frustrating for the parent and child when the school officials refuse to release the child to the other parent. Therefore, it is important to update all parent contact and child pick-up list information with your child’s school. Lastly, make sure to pack all of the child’s needed belongings so that the visiting parent can fairly enjoy their time with the child without any “innocent” interruptions.

Communicate with Each Other: Schedule weekly phone calls to discuss and update each parent about the children’s week. This will be a great time to discuss extra-curricular activities, grades, upcoming events/parent teacher conferences, and any other concerns that you may have. This gives each parent the opportunity to participate in the child’s schooling. After all, everyone loves the children and wants to be apart of their lives in a meaningful way.

Co-parenting can be fun and non-confrontational when its done right. While everyone may still be adjusting to the new blended and co-parent lifestyle, remember, the child’s best interest should always be at the forefront of the parenting. Spend more time being an asset to your child’s success and less time fighting with each other.

I hope you have found these tips helpful and useful. The Quander Law Firm wishes you and your family a great 2016-2017 school year.