texas family code expanded standard possession orderbeverly baker paulding
EXCEPTION FOR CERTAIN TITLE IV-D PROCEEDINGS. (b) If a person possessing the requirements of Subsection (a)(1) is not available in the county in which the court presides, the court may appoint a person the court believes is qualified to conduct the counseling ordered under Subsection (a). 153.007. 05-9107, June 13, 2005). 3, eff. 751, Sec. 252), Sec. 751, Sec. Added by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. If both parents are appointed as conservators of the child, the court shall specify the rights and duties of a parent that are to be exercised: (2) by the joint agreement of the parents; and. The best interest of the child shall always be the primary consideration of the court in determining the issues of conservatorship and possession of and access to the child. (e-1) Notwithstanding Subsections (d) and (e), a court may decline to enter a judgment on a mediated settlement agreement if the court finds: (A) a party to the agreement was a victim of family violence, and that circumstance impaired the party's ability to make decisions; or. (6) is in the best interest of the child. Sec. Texas Family Code - FAM 153.317. 12(1), eff. June 15, 2007. 7, eff. 153.002. (a) In a suit affecting the parent-child relationship, the court may, on its own motion or on a motion or agreement of the parties, appoint a parenting coordinator or assign a domestic relations office under Chapter 203 to appoint an employee or other person to serve as parenting coordinator. (3) other information regarding any relationship with an attorney, party, or child in the suit that might reasonably affect the ability of the person to act impartially during the person's service as parenting facilitator. ABDUCTION RISK FACTORS. 555), Sec. 153.431. RIGHT TO PRIVACY; DELETION OF PERSONAL INFORMATION IN RECORDS. DUTIES OF PARENT NOT APPOINTED CONSERVATOR. Sept. 1, 1999; Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. BEGINNING AND ENDING POSSESSION TIMES FOR PARENTS WHO RESIDE 50 MILES OR LESS APART. Acts 2005, 79th Leg., Ch. SUBCHAPTER D. PARENT APPOINTED AS POSSESSORY CONSERVATOR. The order shall provide that the parties not be required to have face-to-face contact and that the parties be placed in separate rooms during mediation. These standard possession order options are provided to the noncustodial parent to choose from at the time the order is being completed unless the court finds a selection is not in the best interest of the child. WEEKEND POSSESSION EXTENDED BY HOLIDAY. 219), Sec. Sec. AGREEMENT. April 2, 2015. Added by Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch. PDF Exhibit A: Standard Possession Order - Texas Law Help (a) In all cases in which possession of a child by a parent is contested and the possession of the child varies from the standard possession order, including a possession order for a child under three years of age, on request by a party, the court shall state in writing the specific reasons for the variance from the standard order. 751, Sec. 5, eff. Texas Family Code - FAM 153.314 | FindLaw RIGHTS AND DUTIES OF NONPARENT APPOINTED AS SOLE MANAGING CONSERVATOR. 1012), Sec. Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch. 279), Sec. PARENTS WHO RESIDE 100 MILES OR LESS APART. RIGHTS AND DUTIES OF NONPARENT POSSESSORY CONSERVATOR. 1, eff. 1113 (H.B. Sept. 1, 1997; Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. April 2, 2015. Sept. 1, 2003. 482 (H.B. Sept. 1, 1999. Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. The Court ORDERS each conservator to obey this Standard Possession Order. Acts 2005, 79th Leg., Ch. Sept. 1, 1999. 153.372. (d) The actions of a parenting coordinator or parenting facilitator under this section do not constitute the practice of law. Acts 2005, 79th Leg., Ch. Added by Acts 2021, 87th Leg., R.S., Ch. APPOINTMENT OF SOLE OR JOINT MANAGING CONSERVATOR. (e) If the parties have been ordered by the court to attempt to settle parenting issues with the assistance of a parenting facilitator and are unable to settle those issues, the parenting facilitator may make recommendations, other than recommendations regarding the conservatorship of or possession of or access to the child, to the parties and attorneys to implement or clarify provisions of an existing court order that are consistent with the substantive intent of the court order and in the best interest of the child who is the subject of the suit. Sept. 1, 1995; Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 6, eff. June 15, 2007. 1012), Sec. 153.132. (D) the parent attend and complete a battering intervention and prevention program as provided by Article 42.141, Code of Criminal Procedure, or, if such a program is not available, complete a course of treatment under Section 153.010. (d) The court may not allow a parent to have access to a child for whom it is shown by a preponderance of the evidence that: (1) there is a history or pattern of committing family violence during the two years preceding the date of the filing of the suit or during the pendency of the suit; or If the suit is referred to mediation, the court shall order appropriate measures be taken to ensure the physical and emotional safety of the party who filed the objection. 20, Sec. Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch. 7, eff. Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 277 (H.B. After an objection is filed, a parenting coordinator may not be appointed unless, on the request of a party, a hearing is held and the court finds that a preponderance of the evidence does not support the objection. April 20, 1995. DETERMINATION OF VALIDITY AND ENFORCEABILITY OF CONTRACT CONTAINING AGREEMENT TO ARBITRATE. September 1, 2018. (9) for weekend periods of possession that are extended under Section 153.315(a) by a student holiday or teacher in-service day that falls on a Monday, ending at 8 a.m. Tuesday. 20, Sec. 260), Sec. 153.312. Added by Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch. 153.071. Sec. PDF Exhibit A: Standard Possession Order - Texas Law Help Joint managing conservatorship does not require the award of equal or nearly equal periods of physical possession of and access to the child to each of the joint conservators. SUBCHAPTER I. Acts 2021, 87th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1, eff. Sec. Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. (2) may award to the conservator additional periods of possession of or access to the child for a length of time and under terms the court considers reasonable, if the court determines that: (A) the conservator was on military deployment, military mobilization, or temporary military duty in a location where access to the child was not reasonably possible; and. Texas Family Code - FAM 153.317 | FindLaw Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch. 153.006. POSSESSION OF OR ACCESS TO GRANDCHILD. 7, eff. Spectrum:Partisan Bill (Republican 3-0)Status:(Passed)2021-06-18 - Effective on 9/1/21 [SB1936 Detail]Download:Texas-2021-SB1936-Enrolled.html LegiScan Search (5) if feasible, recommend that the parties use an alternative dispute resolution method before requesting enforcement or modification of the terms and conditions of the joint conservatorship through litigation, except in an emergency. Added by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. September 1, 2007. 153.073. (f) On the motion of a party, the amicus attorney, or the attorney ad litem for the child, or on the court's own motion, the court shall cause a record of the interview to be made when the child is 12 years of age or older. 1, eff. Sec. 1, eff. APPOINTMENT OF GRANDPARENT, AUNT, OR UNCLE AS MANAGING CONSERVATOR. 1181 (H.B. BEST INTEREST OF CHILD. Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. (d) A person who makes a disclosure required by Subsection (c) shall decline appointment as parenting facilitator unless, after the disclosure, the parties and the child's attorney, if any, agree in writing to the person's service as parenting facilitator in the suit. 7, eff. (b) It is the policy of this state to encourage frequent contact between a child and each parent for periods of possession that optimize the development of a close and continuing relationship between each parent and child. REPORT OF PARENTING COORDINATOR. Sept. 1, 1997. Standard Possession Order and Parenting Time | Texas Access 1181 (H.B. 2, eff. 153.6083. FALSE REPORT OF CHILD ABUSE. 1113 (H.B. 20, eff. 817), Sec. A requirement in a parenting plan that a party initiate or participate in a dispute resolution process before filing a court action does not apply to an action: (1) to modify the parenting plan in an emergency; (3) alleging that the child's present circumstances will significantly impair the child's physical health or significantly impair the child's emotional development; (5) in which the party shows that enforcement of the requirement is precluded or limited by Section 153.0071. 1012), Sec. 36, eff. HISTORY OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE OR SEXUAL ABUSE. This is a presumption that may be rebutted if not in the child's best interest. April 20, 1995. April 20, 1995. 682 (H.B. APPOINTMENT OF PARENTING COORDINATOR. (b) It is a rebuttable presumption that the appointment of the parents of a child as joint managing conservators is in the best interest of the child. (b) Any fees of a parenting coordinator appointed under Subsection (a) shall be allocated between the parties as determined by the court. Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., R.S., Ch. The court may order the custodian of records to delete all references in the records to the place of residence of either party appointed as a conservator of the child before the release of the records to another party appointed as a conservator. Custody & Visitation - Child Custody and Support - Guides at Texas 1, eff. Added by Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., R.S., Ch. 12, eff. Sept. 1, 1995; Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1113 (H.B. Sept. 1, 1995. 14, eff. Operation of the Expanded Standard Possession Order Once a SPO has been ordered, the parties can automatically elect to receive an Expanded Standard Possession Order (ESPO), unless the judge believes this would not be in the best interest of the child. Under those laws, the Standard Possession Order sets forth different visitation periods when the parents live 100 miles or less apart, and more than 100 miles apart. 1, eff. 2, eff. Temporary orders rendered under this subchapter may be enforced by or against the designated person to the same extent that an order would be enforceable against the conservator who has been ordered to military deployment, military mobilization, or temporary military duty. Sept. 1, 2003. 330, Sec. Alternative Beginning and Ending Possession Times Current as of April 14, 2021 | Updated by FindLaw Staff Welcome to FindLaw's Cases & Codes, a free source of state and federal court opinions, state laws, and the United States Code. (B) specify that the conservator may determine the child's primary residence without regard to geographic location; (2) specify the rights and duties of each parent regarding the child's physical care, support, and education; (3) include provisions to minimize disruption of the child's education, daily routine, and association with friends; (4) allocate between the parents, independently, jointly, or exclusively, all of the remaining rights and duties of a parent as provided by Chapter 151; and. Sec. (b) Evidence of a false report of child abuse is admissible in a suit between the involved parties regarding the terms of conservatorship of a child. 153.012. Amended by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. The duties of the parenting facilitator are limited to those matters described with regard to a parenting coordinator under Section 153.606(a), except that the parenting facilitator may also monitor compliance with court orders. Sec. QUALIFICATIONS OF PARENTING FACILITATOR. (c) It is preferable for all children in a family to be together during periods of possession. (d) A mediated settlement agreement is binding on the parties if the agreement: (1) provides, in a prominently displayed statement that is in boldfaced type or capital letters or underlined, that the agreement is not subject to revocation; (2) is signed by each party to the agreement; and. 1, eff. 153.004. (2) whether the parent lacks strong ties to the United States, regardless of whether the parent is a citizen or permanent resident of the United States. 149), Sec. April 20, 1995. 1181 (H.B. The Texas Family Code presumes the SPO is the minimum amount of parenting time (possession) unless evidence is presented to the court showing why it is not in the child's best interest, such as: little or no prior contact with the child. 153.314 Texas Family Code - FAM 153.314. The presumption that a parent should be appointed or retained as managing conservator of the child is rebutted if the court finds that: (1) the parent has voluntarily relinquished actual care, control, and possession of the child to a nonparent, a licensed child-placing agency, or the Department of Family and Protective Services for a period of one year or more, a portion of which was within 90 days preceding the date of intervention in or filing of the suit; and. Amended by Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 1036, Sec. REBUTTABLE PRESUMPTION. (c) If the parties have not reached agreement on a final parenting plan on or before the 30th day before the date set for trial on the merits, a party may file with the court and serve a proposed parenting plan. Added by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 1181 (H.B. Sec. A person who, before appointment as a parenting facilitator in a suit, served in any other professional capacity with a person who is a party to, or subject of, the suit, or with any member of the family of a party or subject, may not serve as parenting facilitator in a suit involving any family member who is a party to or subject of the suit. 1012), Sec. SUIT FOR POSSESSION OR ACCESS BY GRANDPARENT. The Standard Possession Order is known as the "default" schedule. Sec. 153.701. 1041 (H.B. 1, eff. 9, eff. (2) the person appointed has the minimum qualifications required by Section 153.6101, as documented by the person. 153.702. DUTY TO PROVIDE INFORMATION. After an objection is filed, the suit may not be referred to mediation unless, on the request of a party, a hearing is held and the court finds that a preponderance of the evidence does not support the objection. 2, eff. 20, Sec. Added by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. (a) Notwithstanding any rule, standard of care, or privilege applicable to the professional license held by a parenting facilitator, a communication made by a participant in parenting facilitation is subject to disclosure and may be offered in any judicial or administrative proceeding, if otherwise admissible under the rules of evidence. Child Visitation and Possession Orders | Texas Law Help 1, eff. 1181, Sec. 1012), Sec. 22, eff. 1, eff. (b) A request for findings of fact under this section must conform to the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure. DEFINITIONS. Sept. 1, 1995. 1036, Sec. (5) if the managing conservator gives the possessory conservator written notice by April 15 of each year, the managing conservator may designate 21 days beginning not earlier than the day after the child's school is dismissed for the summer vacation and ending not later than seven days before school resumes at the end of the summer vacation, to be exercised in not more than two separate periods of at least seven consecutive days each, with each period of possession beginning and ending at 6 p.m. on each applicable day, during which the possessory conservator may not have possession of the child, provided that the period or periods so designated do not interfere with the possessory conservator's period or periods of extended summer possession or with Father's Day if the possessory conservator is the father of the child. Sept. 1, 1997; Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. (b) The court may render a temporary order in a proceeding under this subchapter regarding: (1) possession of or access to the child; or. (b) A determination under this section that a contract is valid and enforceable does not affect the court's authority to stay arbitration or refuse to compel arbitration on any other ground provided by law. from the primary residence of the child/ren. 1, eff. 153.704. ACCESS TO CERTAIN RECORDS BY NONPARENT JOINT MANAGING CONSERVATOR. 555), Sec. Sec. 1228), Sec. (iii) restrict the child's ability to legally leave the country after the child reaches the age of majority because of the child's gender, nationality, or religion; (D) is included by the United States Department of State on a list of state sponsors of terrorism; (E) is a country for which the United States Department of State has issued a travel warning to United States citizens regarding travel to the country; (F) has an embassy of the United States in the country; (G) is engaged in any active military action or war, including a civil war; (H) is a party to and compliant with the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction according to the most recent report on compliance issued by the United States Department of State; (I) provides for the extradition of a parental abductor and the return of the child to the United States; or. 1, eff. 86(R) HB 1807 - House Committee Report version - Texas (3) the right to consent to medical, dental, and surgical treatment during an emergency involving an immediate danger to the health and safety of the child. (b) The following orders are not required to include a parenting plan: (1) an order that only modifies child support; (2) an order that only terminates parental rights; or. (d) After the conservator described by Subsection (a) has exercised all additional periods of possession or access awarded under this section, the rights of all affected parties are governed by the terms of the court order applicable when the conservator is not ordered to military deployment, military mobilization, or temporary military duty. (e) In a suit in which the court's order contains provisions related to a finding of family violence in the suit, including supervised visitation, the court may award periods of electronic communication under this section only if: (1) the award and terms of the award are mutually agreed to by the parties; and, (A) are printed in the court's order in boldfaced, capitalized type; and. 818), Sec. Amended by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. Sec. April 2, 2015. Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. Amended by Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 907 (H.B. 112 (H.B. Sec. Added by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. Amended by Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. (b) The agreed parenting plan may contain an alternative dispute resolution procedure that the parties agree to use before requesting enforcement or modification of the terms and conditions of the joint conservatorship through litigation, except in an emergency. Added by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch. Sept. 1, 1995; Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. Acts 2019, 86th Leg., R.S., Ch. (a) Unless limited by court order, a parent appointed as a conservator of a child has at all times the right: (1) to receive information from any other conservator of the child concerning the health, education, and welfare of the child; (2) to confer with the other parent to the extent possible before making a decision concerning the health, education, and welfare of the child; (3) of access to medical, dental, psychological, and educational records of the child; (4) to consult with a physician, dentist, or psychologist of the child; (5) to consult with school officials concerning the child's welfare and educational status, including school activities; (6) to attend school activities, including school lunches, performances, and field trips; (7) to be designated on the child's records as a person to be notified in case of an emergency; (8) to consent to medical, dental, and surgical treatment during an emergency involving an immediate danger to the health and safety of the child; and. 2, eff. 1, eff. Standard & Expanded Possession Order Calendar in Texas (2023) Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 3-0) Status: (Passed) 2021-06-18 - Effective on 9/1/21 [SB1936 Detail] Download: Texas-2021-SB1936-Engrossed.html 3.01, eff. In determining whether to award electronic communication, the court shall consider: (1) whether electronic communication is in the best interest of the child; (2) whether equipment necessary to facilitate the electronic communication is reasonably available to all parties subject to the order; and. 153.371. (a) On written agreement of the parties, the court may refer a suit affecting the parent-child relationship to arbitration. Added by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 495), Sec. 421 (S.B. 751, Sec. (2) through an oral statement made in open court on the record. In rendering the order, the court shall consider evidence of all relevant factors, including: (1) the caregiving provided to the child before and during the current suit; (2) the effect on the child that may result from separation from either party; (3) the availability of the parties as caregivers and the willingness of the parties to personally care for the child; (4) the physical, medical, behavioral, and developmental needs of the child; (5) the physical, medical, emotional, economic, and social conditions of the parties; (6) the impact and influence of individuals, other than the parties, who will be present during periods of possession; (7) the presence of siblings during periods of possession; (8) the child's need to develop healthy attachments to both parents; (9) the child's need for continuity of routine; (10) the location and proximity of the residences of the parties; (11) the need for a temporary possession schedule that incrementally shifts to the schedule provided in the prospective order under Subsection (d) based on: (B) minimal or inconsistent contact with the child by a party; (12) the ability of the parties to share in the responsibilities, rights, and duties of parenting; and. 16, eff. 1012), Sec. 7, eff. Added by Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. (a) If the conservator with the exclusive right to designate the primary residence of the child is ordered to military deployment, military mobilization, or temporary military duty, the court may render a temporary order to appoint a designated person to exercise the exclusive right to designate the primary residence of the child during the military deployment, military mobilization, or temporary military duty in the following order of preference: (1) the conservator who does not have the exclusive right to designate the primary residence of the child; (2) if appointing the conservator described by Subdivision (1) is not in the child's best interest, a designated person chosen by the conservator with the exclusive right to designate the primary residence of the child; or. September 1, 2009. Amended by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. Summer, holidays, and special days. In a suit, there is a rebuttable presumption that the standard possession order in Subchapter F: (1) provides reasonable minimum possession of a child for a parent named as a possessory conservator or joint managing conservator; and. Holiday Possession Unaffected by Distance Parents Reside Apart Current as of April 14, 2021 | Updated by FindLaw Staff Welcome to FindLaw's Cases & Codes, a free source of state and federal court opinions, state laws, and the United States Code. APPOINTING DESIGNATED PERSON TO EXERCISE VISITATION FOR CONSERVATOR WITH EXCLUSIVE RIGHT TO DESIGNATE PRIMARY RESIDENCE OF CHILD IN CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES. NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation.Read Latest Draft Bill Title: Relating to the beginning and ending possession times in certain standard possession orders in a suit affecting the parent-child relationship. In Texas, a Standard Possession Order (SPO) is a court-ordered schedule for a non-custodial parent to have possession of their child. 916 (H.B. 219), Sec. TX Expanded Standard Possession Order Divorce can significantly transform the relationship between parents and their children. 751, Sec. Added by Acts 2005, 79th Leg., Ch. A biological or adoptive grandparent may not request possession of or access to a grandchild if: (1) each of the biological parents of the grandchild has: (B) had the person's parental rights terminated; or, (C) executed an affidavit of waiver of interest in child or an affidavit of relinquishment of parental rights under Chapter 161 and the affidavit designates the Department of Family and Protective Services, a licensed child-placing agency, or a person other than the child's stepparent as the managing conservator of the child; and. 153.6082. 9, Sec. September 1, 2009. 153.138. ENFORCEMENT. 1404), Sec. (b) An order granting possession of or access to a child by a grandparent that is rendered over a parent's objections must state, with specificity that: (1) at the time the relief was requested, at least one biological or adoptive parent of the child had not had that parent's parental rights terminated; (2) the grandparent requesting possession of or access to the child has overcome the presumption that a parent acts in the best interest of the parent's child by proving by a preponderance of the evidence that the denial of possession of or access to the child would significantly impair the child's physical health or emotional well-being; and. 1, eff. Added by Acts 2021, 87th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1, eff. 2, eff. (a) If the parties have been ordered by the court to attempt to settle parenting issues with the assistance of a parenting coordinator or parenting facilitator and to attempt to reach a proposed joint resolution or statement of intent regarding the dispute, the parenting coordinator or parenting facilitator, as applicable, shall submit a written report describing the parties' joint proposal or statement to the parties, any attorneys for the parties, and any attorney for the child who is the subject of the suit. Sec. 1012), Sec. FACTORS FOR COURT TO CONSIDER. 1, eff. 153.010. 153.551. (a) If a weekend period of possession of the possessory conservator coincides with a student holiday or teacher in-service day that falls on a Monday during the regular school term, as determined by the school in which the child is enrolled, or with a federal, state, or local holiday that falls on a Monday during the summer months in which school is not in session, the weekend possession shall end at 6 p.m. on Monday. (2) provides that the child's primary residence shall be within a specified geographic area.