Hello everyone — Chris Schmiedeke here. Happy Halloween! 🎃 October is here, and it’s time to walk through what this month looks like under the Texas Standard Possession Order (SPO). This month is fairly straightforward, but there is a small twist with a fifth Friday and a holiday you’ll want to note.
Thursday Possession Dates
For non-custodial parents, the Texas SPO grants Thursday visitation during the school term.
For October 2025, those dates are:
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October 2
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October 9
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October 16
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October 23
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October 30
So, five Thursdays this month means five regular visits for the non-custodial parent.
Weekend Possession in October
Under the Texas SPO, the non-custodial parent has the first, third, and fifth weekends of the month.
For October 2025:
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First Friday: October 3
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Third Friday: October 17
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Fifth Friday: October 31 (yes, October has a fifth Friday this year!)
This means the non-custodial parent will have three weekends this month, including the extra weekend at the end of October.
The custodial parent will have the second and fourth weekends:
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October 10
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October 24
Holidays and Special Considerations
October 2025 brings Halloween on Friday, October 31. This happens to coincide with the non-custodial parent’s fifth Friday weekend, so the non-custodial parent will get to enjoy Halloween with their children.
Columbus Day falls in October as well, but under the SPO, Columbus Day does not change possession schedules if it falls during the custodial parent’s regular time. Therefore, Columbus Day will not extend visitation for the non-custodial parent this month.
Key Takeaways for October 2025
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Thursdays: Non-custodial parents have October 2, 9, 16, 23, and 30.
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Weekends: Non-custodial parent has October 3–5, 17–19, and 31–November 2.
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Halloween: Non-custodial parent enjoys Halloween with the children due to the fifth Friday.
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Columbus Day does not change possession this month.
Overall, October is a relatively simple month for the Texas Standard Possession Order, with the only real variation being the fifth Friday and Halloween.
If you need help interpreting or enforcing your Texas Standard Possession Order, the Law Office of Chris Schmiedeke is here to guide you. Contact us today for a consultation.