Parents who have gone through divorce likely have a child custody order that dictates the parenting time schedule and other matters related to the children. Texas parents who follow a Standard Possession Order are typically subjected to an April deadline for choosing a summer parenting time schedule. This means that the noncustodial parent has until April 1 to provide the other parent with the dates of their extended summer possession time.
The custodial parent also has a deadline to designate one weekend during the other parent’s extended parenting time. This deadline is April 15, but it can be difficult for them to designate a weekend if the noncustodial parent doesn’t provide their dates by the April 1 deadline.
What happens if deadlines are missed?
The April dates allow parents to make plans for vacations, camps, travel, work and childcare, so it’s critical that these deadlines are complied with. If the April deadlines are missed, the order may provide default dates that dictate when the child will be with each parent. Summer disputes can escalate quickly because June vacation plans or childcare plans are time-sensitive.
A missed April deadline doesn’t give either parent permission to ignore the active order. Denying possession, changing vacation plans or keeping the child beyond the ordered time can lead to significant enforcement issues.
What happens if parents can’t agree?
Parents may not be able to agree on how to handle summer schedules. If there’s a short-term crisis affecting the child or if the current schedule doesn’t work any longer, parents may seek a temporary order or modification request. These enable the court to step in to decide what will happen since the parents can’t get along.
If both parents can’t agree on the summer parenting time schedule, they must turn to the custody order to determine how to proceed. Most Standard Possession Orders have specific guidelines, such as notice dates, pickup times, return times and default possession periods, which would apply until the court steps in to modify the order.
If both parents agree on summer changes, the modified parenting agreement should be in writing so the terms for the summer are clear to both parties. It’s best to have the assistance of someone familiar with these matters so they can help to ensure everything is handled in a lawful manner.