Burleson Visitation Attorney

Hundreds of Family Law Cases. Thirty-Five Years Serving Johnson County.

In Texas, what most parents call visitation is formally known as “possession and access” under the Texas Family Code. Whatever you call it, the stakes are the same: your scheduled time with your child. At Coontz Cochran, Attorney Jeff Cochran handles our family law practice almost exclusively and has managed hundreds of custody and visitation matters since joining the firm in 1999. Combined with the firm’s roots in Burleson going back to 1990, we bring more than three decades of local presence to possession and access cases filed in Johnson County courts.

Visitation disputes don’t arise only in divorce. They also come up in custody modifications, cases involving never-married parents, and situations where an existing order is no longer working. A free initial consultation with our team is a helpful first step toward understanding your options.

Call (888) 858-0536 to schedule your free consultation with a child visitation attorney in Burleson. We’re ready to help.

How Texas Establishes Possession & Access: The Standard Possession Order

When parents can’t agree on a schedule, Texas courts default to the Standard Possession Order (SPO): the baseline visitation schedule established under Texas Family Code section 153.312. The SPO applies to children age three and older, and Texas law presumes it serves the child’s best interests under section 153.252.

Under a typical Standard Possession Order, the noncustodial parent receives:

• Possession on the 1st, 3rd, and 5th weekends of each month
• Thursday evening visits during the school year
• Alternating holidays, including Thanksgiving and spring break
• Extended summer possession, typically 30 days

For noncustodial parents living within 50 miles of the child, Texas Family Code section 153.3171 makes the Expanded Standard Possession Order (ESPO) the automatic default for cases filed on or after September 1, 2021. The ESPO adds overnight visits and aligns exchanges with the school schedule, giving parents more time without disrupting the child’s routine.

For children under age three, there is no SPO default. Instead, the court sets a possession schedule by weighing the specific factors listed in Texas Family Code section 153.254 and accounting for the younger child’s developmental needs. If both parents can agree on a schedule that differs from the SPO, courts generally approve it as long as the arrangement serves the child’s best interests. Johnson County possession orders are filed with and heard by the district courts at the Guinn Justice Center in Cleburne.

How Johnson County Courts Set Visitation Terms

Texas courts encourage parents to cooperate and submit an agreed parenting plan that outlines set possession periods. When that’s not possible, the court holds a hearing and issues a possession order after considering arguments from both sides. The central question in every case is the best interests of the child, not the convenience or preferences of either parent.

When setting a possession schedule, the court may consider:

• The child’s age and developmental needs
• Each parent’s ability to meet the child’s physical and emotional needs
• The stability and environment of each parent’s home
• Each parent’s work history and lifestyle
• Any criminal history or safety concerns
• The child’s own preferences, if the child is of sufficient age and maturity

When there are credible safety concerns, the court may order supervised visitation, requiring a neutral third party or professional agency to be present during the parent’s time with the child. In more serious situations, the court may restrict or eliminate unsupervised contact entirely if it would pose a meaningful risk to the child’s well-being.

Modifying or Enforcing a Possession Order in Texas

Circumstances change. A parent may relocate, a work schedule may shift, or a child’s needs may evolve in ways the original order didn’t anticipate. To modify an existing possession order in Texas, a parent must demonstrate a material and substantial change in circumstances under Texas Family Code section 156.101. Filing a modification motion starts the process. The court then considers whether the proposed change serves the child’s best interests before approving or denying it.

Enforcement is a separate matter. If the other parent isn’t following the court-ordered possession schedule, you can file a motion for enforcement with the family court. Documenting missed visits and saving records of related communications can strengthen your position before you file. Non-compliance with a court-ordered possession schedule can result in contempt findings and other legal consequences for the violating parent.

Why Burleson Families Choose Coontz Cochran for Visitation Matters

Attorney Jeff Cochran has concentrated on family law since joining our firm in 1999, handling hundreds of matters ranging from high-conflict custody disputes to possession modifications. Before coming to Coontz Cochran, he practiced family law at Hill Gilstrap in Arlington and earned his law degree from Texas Tech University in 1997. He’s also fluent in Spanish, allowing him to work directly with Spanish-speaking clients in the Burleson community without an intermediary.

Our firm has been recognized in Texas Super Lawyers. This designation is reserved for the top 5 percent of attorneys in the state. We hold an AV rating from Martindale-Hubbell, the highest peer-review rating for legal ability and ethical standards. Across our attorneys, we bring more than 50 years of combined legal experience to every matter we handle. We don’t use cookie-cutter strategies: Attorney Cochran and Attorney Coontz personally develop approaches tailored to each client’s specific situation and goals, and our clients consistently note that we keep them informed and explain legal procedures in plain terms throughout. That combination of focused family law experience, familiarity with Johnson County courts, and individualized attention is what sets our representation apart.

Call (888) 858-0536 to schedule your free consultation with one of our visitation attorneys in Burleson. You can also contact our firm online.