Hi everyone, Chris Schmiedeke here with your July installment of the Texas Standard Possession Order (SPO) series. Each month, I break down what parents need to know about how the SPO plays out in real time. July is usually a pretty straightforward month, but there are still a few key details and one tricky situation this year that are worth highlighting.
Default July Possession Dates
For the summer, the big assumption is that the non-custodial parent did not give notice by April 1 of a custom extended summer possession. If no notice was given, the default possession dates are July 1 through July 31.
If you’re new to this series, I recommend going back to the [April video/blog] (where notice requirements are discussed in detail). That way, you’ll understand why April 1 and April 15 deadlines matter so much for summer schedules.
No Thursday Possession in Summer
One common question I get: Do Thursdays continue during the summer?
The answer is no.
Thursdays are only included in the SPO during the regular school term. Since summer break is not considered part of the school term, there are no Thursday visits in July.
Weekend Possession in July
Weekends are different. Unlike Thursdays, weekends do continue throughout the summer. However, because the extended summer possession counts as a “holiday period,” it overrides the regular weekend schedule.
This means that if the non-custodial parent has the default July 1–31 extended summer possession, weekends fall entirely within that timeframe.
But here’s an important exception:
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Custodial parents can carve out one weekend inside the extended summer possession if they gave notice by April 15.
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For example, if the custodial parent requested July 11, 18, or 25, they would get that weekend.
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If no notice was given by April 15, then the custodial parent doesn’t get a weekend in July.
The Tricky Transition: End of July into August
Here’s where things get a little confusing this year.
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The extended summer possession ends Thursday, July 31 at 6 p.m.
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The very next day—Friday, August 1—is the first Friday of the month.
Under the SPO, the non-custodial parent always gets the first Friday of the month.
So what happens?
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On Thursday, July 31 at 6 p.m., the non-custodial parent returns the child.
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On Friday, August 1 at 6 p.m., the non-custodial parent picks the child up again for the regular first Friday of the month weekend.
It’s a quick turnaround that can catch parents off guard if they aren’t paying attention to the calendar.
Independence Day and Summer Possession
What about the Fourth of July holiday?
If the non-custodial parent has the default July 1–31 extended summer possession, then Independence Day falls within that period. In this case, the holiday does not create a separate possession schedule—it simply gets “swallowed up” by the extended summer dates.
If custom dates were selected, the Fourth of July might play a role, but that depends on the specific notice given earlier in the year.
Final Thoughts on July 2025
To sum it up:
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No Thursday visits in July.
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Weekends continue, but are usually overridden by extended summer possession.
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Custodial parents only get a weekend in July if they gave notice by April 15.
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Watch for the August 1 transition—the first Friday of the month kicks in immediately after extended summer possession ends.
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Independence Day doesn’t change anything under the default July 1–31 schedule.
All in all, July is one of the more straightforward SPO months, but that end-of-month transition into August is worth noting.
I’ll be back in August with the next installment of this series.
👉 If you need help understanding or enforcing your Texas Standard Possession Order, or if you’re considering modifications, the Law Office of Chris Schmiedeke is here to help. Contact us today to schedule a consultation.