Texas · TX

Texas Parenting Plan Guide

What you need to file a parenting plan in Texas — the state's terminology, required forms, education requirements, and a free template to build from.

Informational only. This is not legal advice. Confirm every requirement with a Texas family-law attorney before filing.

Standard term used

Standard Possession Order

Parent education class

Not statewide required

Filing note

The Texas Standard Possession Order (SPO) is the default; parents may agree to a different schedule.

Official state courts site

www.txcourts.gov

What a Texas parenting plan should cover

Legal custody: who makes decisions about school, healthcare, and religion.
Physical custody: the residential schedule for weekdays, weekends, and holidays.
A specific weekly or two-week custody schedule (2-2-3, 2-2-5-5, week-on/off, etc.).
Holiday and school-break rotation, usually alternating odd/even years.
Transportation and exchange rules — who drives, where, and at what time.
Communication rules between parents and between each parent and the child.
How future disputes will be handled (mediation, parenting coordinator, or court).

A simple Texas parenting plan template

Copy this outline into a document, fill in the specifics, and review with an attorney before filing with the Texas courts.

TEXAS PARENTING PLAN

1. PARTIES
   Parent A: __________________________
   Parent B: __________________________
   Child(ren):
     Name / DOB: ______________________

2. LEGAL DECISION-MAKING
   [ ] Joint    [ ] Sole (Parent A)    [ ] Sole (Parent B)
   Notes: ____________________________

3. RESIDENTIAL SCHEDULE (Standard Possession Order)
   Regular schedule (specify pattern):
   ____________________________________
   Start date of cycle: _______________

4. HOLIDAYS & SCHOOL BREAKS
   Alternating odd/even years:
     Thanksgiving:   A odd / B even
     Winter break:   ______________
     Spring break:   ______________
     Summer:         ______________
     Birthdays:      ______________

5. EXCHANGES
   Location: __________________________
   Time: ______________________________
   Transportation responsibility: _____

6. COMMUNICATION
   Between parents: [ ] app  [ ] email  [ ] text
   Parent-child while at other home:
     Frequency: ______  Method: ______

7. DECISION FRAMEWORK FOR DISPUTES
   Step 1: Direct discussion (written)
   Step 2: Mediation
   Step 3: Court

8. SIGNATURES
   Parent A: _______________  Date: ___
   Parent B: _______________  Date: ___

Child support in Texas

Texas uses the Percentage of Obligor Income model: support is calculated as a straight percentage of the paying parent's income, without combining both incomes. The worksheet starts from net monthly income.

Shared-time credit

No automatic overnight credit — deviations are at the judge's discretion.

Self-support reserve

About $1,000/month of the paying parent's income is protected.

Texas applies 20/25/30/35/40% of the obligor's monthly net resources, capped at $11,900 of net resources (2025 cap). Texas has no overnight credit in the guideline.

Estimate Texas child support Official TX calculator

Texas parenting plan FAQ

How is child support calculated in Texas?

Texas uses the Percentage of Obligor Income model, which means support is calculated as a straight percentage of the paying parent's income, without combining both incomes. The worksheet starts from net monthly income. At typical middle incomes the guideline devotes roughly 20% of the relevant income to one child and about 25% to two children.

Does parenting time reduce child support in Texas?

Texas has no automatic overnight credit built into its guideline. A judge can deviate from the guideline for substantially shared time, but it is discretionary rather than formulaic.

Is there a minimum income protection in Texas?

Yes. Texas protects roughly $1,000 of the paying parent's monthly income as a self-support reserve before support is ordered.

Does a Texas parenting plan have to be in writing?

The Texas Standard Possession Order (SPO) is the default; parents may agree to a different schedule. Courts in Texas expect the residential schedule (what the state calls a Standard Possession Order), holiday rotation, exchange logistics, and a dispute-resolution step to be spelled out in writing.

Put your Texas parenting plan into practice

CustodyTrac keeps both parents on the same custody calendar, logs every exchange and message, and produces court-ready PDFs — free forever.

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Other states

Utah Vermont Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming District of Columbia

See all 50 states + DC

Next steps after your state's rules

Estimate support under this state's guideline, pick a schedule, and keep the record your court will ask for.

Parenting plan guides by state
Filing venue, required classes, and the terminology each state's courts use.
State-by-state child support estimator
Applies your state's own guideline model to your numbers.
Custody schedule patterns explained
2-2-3, 2-2-5-5, week-on/week-off, and every other common rotation.
Custody and family law glossary
Plain-English definitions of the terms in your order.
Court-ready PDF legal exports
One-click evidence packets for your attorney or a hearing — unlimited and free.
Free co-parenting app for both parents
Shared calendar, messaging, expenses, and court-ready exports at no cost to either household.

Draft your plan with free tools

Everything below is free, printable, and court-ready in format.

All free tools →Resource library →Printable templates →