How will COVID-19 affect my spring break possession schedule?

Child Custody

If you have a standard possession schedule according to Texas Family Code Chapter 153, then this year (an even-numbered year) the conservator designated as the possessory conservator has possession of the child for his or her spring break. You will want carefully to look at your specific order, but generally the possession provisions that govern spring break will specify that the possessory conservator’s time ends either at 6:00 p.m. on the day before school resumes after the spring vacation, or at the time school resumes after the spring break vacation. You will also want to check your specific order to see the place for either the surrender or return of the child- you will usually find this under your particular order’s “General Terms and Conditions.”

Since many of our counties have extended spring vacation due to concerns about Covid-19, the family court judges in Tarrant County have provided guidance about how they view this extension, and have issued a policy concerning this on March 13, 2020. Simply put, the guiding policy right now is that the spring break vacation ends as previously scheduled according to each particular school’s calendar.

As always, it is best to attempt to communicate and co-parent amicably with the other parent. If at all possible, we encourage you to work things out with the other parent during this uncertain time, bearing in mind the aforementioned family court policy concerning spring break. And also, as a reminder, if the possessory conservator has a 1st, 3rd or 5th weekend possession schedule, the third weekend of this month (counting by Fridays) will begin on March 20, 2020.

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