Texas Child Visitation Lawyers

Q: What is visitation called in Texas?

Texas law calls it possession and access. Possession is the time the child is physically with you; access includes contact like phone and video calls and attending school activities. The schedule is set out in a court order called a possession order, most commonly the Standard Possession Order.

Q: What is the Standard Possession Order in Texas?

The Standard Possession Order, or SPO, is the default schedule in the Texas Family Code for parents who live within 50 miles of each other. The non-primary parent typically has the child on the first, third, and fifth weekends of each month, Thursday evenings during the school year, alternating holidays, and 30 days in the summer. Texas law presumes the SPO is the minimum reasonable time for a fit parent.

Q: Can parents get 50/50 possession in Texas?

Yes, by agreement or court order. Common equal schedules include week-on/week-off and 2-2-5-5 rotations. Courts can order them when an equal schedule serves the child's best interest, and judges look at distance between homes, the child's school routine, and how well the parents communicate. A lawyer can present the evidence that makes an equal schedule realistic.

Texas child visitation lawyer helping a parent with a possession schedule

Time with your child isn't a favor the other parent grants you — it's a right a Texas court can put in writing and enforce. Whether you need a possession schedule established, your current schedule isn't working, or the other parent keeps denying the time you're owed, an experienced Texas visitation lawyer can get a schedule that fits your life and make sure it's honored.

The Texas Lawyer Referral Service connects you with a visitation lawyer from our network of attorneys who handles possession and access cases in your county. The referral is free, and help is available statewide — 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Your time with your child is protected by law — use it

512-872-4400

Call or text us 24/7 — free referral to a Texas visitation lawyer

Certified by the State Bar of Texas • Serving all of Texas

What Does Texas Call "Visitation"?

Texas law calls it "possession and access." Possession is the time your child is physically with you. Access covers other contact — phone and video calls, school events, activities. Both are spelled out in a court order called a possession order, which is part of every Texas custody case. (The decision-making side of custody — conservatorship — is a separate issue, covered on our child custody attorneys page. This page is about the schedule.)

A clear, specific possession order is what makes your parenting time enforceable. Vague orders — "visitation as agreed by the parties" — are nearly impossible to enforce, because there is nothing concrete to hold the other parent to. One of the most valuable things a visitation lawyer does is make sure the order's terms are precise enough that a judge can enforce them later.

What Is the Standard Possession Order (SPO)?

The Standard Possession Order is the default schedule in Chapter 153 of the Texas Family Code, and the law presumes it's the minimum reasonable time for a fit parent. For parents who live within 50 miles of each other, the SPO generally gives the non-primary parent:

Period	Standard schedule	Expanded election
Weekends	1st, 3rd, and 5th weekends, Friday evening to Sunday evening	School dismissal Friday until school resumes Monday
School year	Thursday evenings	Thursday overnight to Friday morning
Holidays	Alternating by even/odd year — Thanksgiving, Christmas split, spring break; Mother's Day and Father's Day with the respective parent
Summer	30 days (42 days if parents live more than 50 miles apart, under the long-distance schedule)

Parents who live within 50 miles of the child can generally elect the expanded SPO, which turns weekends and Thursdays into overnights and brings parenting time close to an even split. Longer distances trigger alternative schedules — fewer but longer visits, more summer time. And none of this is mandatory: parents can agree to any schedule that works, including true 50/50 rotations like week-on/week-off. Courts sign agreed schedules routinely when they serve the child's best interest.

The Other Parent Is Denying My Visitation. What Can a Lawyer Do?

Denied court-ordered visitation is enforceable — and Texas judges take it seriously. If the other parent refuses exchanges, "forgets" weekends, or uses the child as leverage, a visitation lawyer can file an enforcement action under Chapter 157 of the Family Code. A court can:

Hold the violating parent in contempt of court — with fines and potential jail time
Award makeup possession time for every period you lost
Order the other parent to pay your attorney's fees and court costs
In persistent cases, treat the interference as grounds to modify custody itself

The evidence makes the case. Show up for every scheduled exchange, even when you expect to be turned away. Keep a written log of each denial — date, time, place, what was said — and save the texts. Enforcement motions must match each violation to the exact terms of the order, which is why having a lawyer draft them matters: courts dismiss defective motions on technicalities.

One bright-line rule: never withhold child support because visitation is denied. In Texas the two obligations are completely separate — stopping payments only puts you in violation too. Support problems have their own remedies, covered on our child support lawyers page.

What Is Supervised Visitation?

Supervised visitation means a parent's time with the child happens in the presence of a neutral third party — a relative both sides trust, or a supervised visitation facility. Texas courts order it when there are credible safety concerns: family violence, substance abuse, untreated mental health issues, or long absence from the child's life.

If supervision has been ordered against you, treat it as a path, not a verdict. Courts can lift supervision when the underlying concern is addressed — completing counseling or treatment, clean testing, a record of consistent, incident-free visits. A lawyer can negotiate the conditions, document your compliance, and bring the case back to court to restore normal possession. On the other side, if you believe unsupervised time genuinely endangers your child, a lawyer can present that evidence and ask the court for appropriate protections.

Can the Schedule Be Changed?

Yes. Possession orders can be modified when circumstances materially and substantially change and a new schedule serves the child's best interest. Common triggers: a new work schedule, a move, the child getting older and busier, or constant conflict at exchanges. Two practical notes:

Until the judge signs a new order, the old schedule remains binding — informal side agreements aren't enforceable and tend to collapse at the worst moment.
As children grow, schedules built for a toddler rarely fit a teenager. Periodic, agreed updates — put into a court order — prevent most enforcement fights.

How a Visitation Lawyer Helps

Designing a schedule that fits your life — shift work, distance, school calendars, special needs — rather than defaulting to terms that don't work
Drafting precise, enforceable orders — exact times, places, and exchange logistics
Enforcing denied visitation — contempt, makeup time, and fees
Handling supervised visitation — imposing it when safety requires, or working back to unsupervised time
Modifying outdated schedules — getting the order to match reality before conflict escalates
Protecting fathers' parenting time — see our fathers' rights attorneys page for the dad-specific angle

Most Texas visitation lawyers charge a retainer plus an hourly rate. Focused matters — an enforcement motion, an agreed modification — are usually far less costly than full custody litigation, and many attorneys in our network offer payment plans. Your consultation is the place to ask about fees before you commit to anything.

Missing time with your child? A lawyer can get it back

512-872-4400

Call or text us 24/7 — the referral is free

Certified by the State Bar of Texas • Serving all of Texas

Related Help

Texas family law lawyers — the full picture: divorce, custody, support, and more
Child custody attorneys — conservatorship and decision-making rights
Child support lawyers — guideline support, enforcement, and modification
Fathers' rights attorneys — paternity and protecting a dad's parenting time
Divorce lawyers — when the schedule is set as part of a divorce
All practice areas

Texas Child Visitation: Frequently Asked Questions

What is visitation called in Texas?

Texas law calls it "possession and access." Possession is the time the child is physically with you; access includes contact like phone and video calls and attending school activities. The schedule is set out in a court order called a possession order — most commonly the Standard Possession Order.

What is the Standard Possession Order in Texas?

The Standard Possession Order (SPO) is the default schedule in the Texas Family Code for parents who live within 50 miles of each other. The non-primary parent typically has the child on the first, third, and fifth weekends of each month, Thursday evenings during the school year, alternating holidays, and 30 days in the summer. Texas law presumes the SPO is the minimum reasonable time for a fit parent.

What is an expanded Standard Possession Order?

An expanded SPO lengthens the standard periods. Weekends run from school dismissal Friday until school resumes Monday, and the Thursday visit becomes an overnight. For parents who live within 50 miles of the child, the expanded schedule is generally available by election, and it brings parenting time close to a 45/55 split.

Can parents get 50/50 possession in Texas?

Yes — by agreement or court order. Common equal schedules include week-on/week-off and 2-2-5-5 rotations. Courts can order them when an equal schedule serves the child's best interest, and judges look at distance between homes, the child's school routine, and how well the parents communicate. A lawyer can present the evidence that makes an equal schedule realistic.

What can I do if the other parent denies my visitation in Texas?

Keep following the order yourself, show up for every scheduled exchange, and document each denial with the date, time, and place. Your lawyer can then file an enforcement action asking the court to hold the other parent in contempt, award makeup time, and order them to pay your attorney's fees. Repeated denials can even support changing the custody arrangement. Do not stop paying child support in response — support and visitation are legally separate.

What is supervised visitation and when do Texas courts order it?

Supervised visitation means a parent's time with the child happens in the presence of a neutral third party or at a supervised visitation facility. Courts order it when there are credible concerns about safety — family violence, substance abuse, or neglect. It is usually a step, not a destination: a lawyer can help a parent meet the court's conditions and work back toward unsupervised time.

Can a parent be denied visitation entirely in Texas?

Rarely. Texas public policy favors children having continuing contact with both parents, so courts deny access only when contact would endanger the child's physical or emotional welfare. Even then, courts often try supervised visitation first. A complete denial requires strong evidence.

Do grandparents have visitation rights in Texas?

Only in narrow circumstances. A grandparent generally must show that denying access would significantly impair the child's physical health or emotional well-being, and at least one biological or adoptive parent must still have parental rights. These cases face a strong presumption that fit parents act in their child's best interest, so experienced counsel matters.

Can I change our possession schedule in Texas?

Yes. A court can modify a possession order if circumstances have materially and substantially changed since it was signed and the change serves the child's best interest. New work schedules, a move, the child's age and activities, or repeated conflicts at exchanges are common reasons. Until a new order is signed, the existing schedule remains binding.

What does a visitation lawyer cost in Texas?

Most Texas visitation lawyers charge a retainer plus an hourly rate. Focused matters like a straightforward enforcement or an agreed schedule change cost far less than contested litigation. Many attorneys in our network offer payment plans, and your consultation lets you discuss fees before you commit.

How do I find a good child visitation lawyer near me in Texas?

Call or text the Texas Lawyer Referral Service at the number for your area. As a lawyer referral service certified by the State Bar of Texas, we connect you with an experienced visitation lawyer in our network who handles possession and access cases in your county. The referral is free and available statewide, 24/7.