Tex. Codes » Family Code · TITLE 5. THE PARENT-CHILD RELATIONSHIP AND THE SUIT AFFECTING THE PARENT-CHILD RELATIONSHIP · SUBTITLE B. SUITS AFFECTING THE PARENT-CHILD RELATIONSHIP · CHAPTER 153. CONSERVATORSHIP, POSSESSION, AND ACCESS
Texas Codes

Tex. Fam. Code § 153.251 (2026)

Policy And General Application Of Guidelines

✓ current as of May 2026
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Sec. 153.251. POLICY AND GENERAL APPLICATION OF GUIDELINES. (a) The guidelines established in the standard possession order are intended to guide the courts in ordering the terms and conditions for possession of a child by a parent named as a possessory conservator or as the minimum possession for a joint managing conservator.

(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.

(c) It is preferable for all children in a family to be together during periods of possession.

(d) The standard possession order is designed to apply to a child three years of age or older.

Added by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 20, Sec. 1, eff. April 20, 1995.

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 45 cases (11 in the last 5 years), 1997–2025 · leading case: Coleman v. Coleman, 109 S.W.3d 108 (Tex. App. 2003).
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Coleman v. Coleman, 109 S.W.3d 108 (Tex. App. 2003). · cites it 2× “The permanent orders have the effect of allowing the children to be together for only short periods of time.”
In the Interest of Rodriguez, 940 S.W.2d 265 (Tex. App. 1997). · cites it 2× “See TEX. FAM.CODE ANN. §§ 153.251(d), 153.254 (Vernon 1996).”
Gardner v. Gardner, 229 S.W.3d 747 (Tex. App. 2007). “” Tex. Fam.Code ANN. § 153.251(c) (Vernon 2002).”
E. C. Ex Rel. Gonzales v. Graydon, 28 S.W.3d 825 (Tex. App. 2000). · cites it 2× “Tex. Fam.Code Ann. § 153.251(a) (Vernon 1996) (emphasis added).”
In re Interest of J.M.M., 549 S.W.3d 293 (Tex. App. 2018). “TEX. FAM. CODE ANN. § 153.251(a) (West 2014).”
In the Interest of C.B.M., 14 S.W.3d 855 (Tex. App. 2000). · cites it 3× “Tex. Fam.Code Ann. § 153.251(a) (Vernon 1996).”
Mason-Murphy v. Grabowski, 317 S.W.3d 923 (Tex. App. 2010). “Tex. Fam.Code Ann. § 153.251 (West 2008).”
In the Interest of M.M.S., 256 S.W.3d 470 (Tex. App. 2008). “” See Tex. Fam.Code Ann. § 153.251 (Vernon 2002).”
In Re Cbm, 14 S.W.3d 855 (Tex. App. 2000). · cites it 3× “TEX. FAM.CODE ANN. § 153.251(a) (Vernon 1996).”
in the Interest of L. R. A. AKA L. A., a Child v. Dep't of Fam. & Prot. Servs. (Tex. App. 2019). · cites it 2× “) (court violated public policy under Texas Family Code § 153.251 and abused its discretion by modifying possession order to limit the father’s contact with children without evidence that doing so was in the children’s best interests).”
In Re Rdy, 51 S.W.3d 314 (Tex. App. 2001). “See TEX. FAM.CODE ANN. § 153.251 (Vernon 2000).”
In Re Mms, 256 S.W.3d 470 (Tex. App. 2008). “" See TEX. FAM.CODE ANN. § 153.251 (Vernon 2002).”
Show all 45 citing cases →
— Tex. Fam. Code § 153.251(a) — 8 cases
E. C. Ex Rel. Gonzales v. Graydon, 28 S.W.3d 825 (Tex. App. 2000). “Tex. Fam.Code Ann. § 153.251(a) (Vernon 1996) (emphasis added).”
In re Interest of J.M.M., 549 S.W.3d 293 (Tex. App. 2018). “TEX. FAM. CODE ANN. § 153.251(a) (West 2014).”
In the Interest of C.B.M., 14 S.W.3d 855 (Tex. App. 2000). “Tex. Fam.Code Ann. § 153.251(a) (Vernon 1996).”
In Re Cbm, 14 S.W.3d 855 (Tex. App. 2000). “TEX. FAM.CODE ANN. § 153.251(a) (Vernon 1996).”
in the Matter of the Marriage of L. B.& L. C. B. & in the Interest of J. C. B., a Child (Tex. App. 2022).
— Tex. Fam. Code § 153.251(b) — 9 cases
In the Interest of C.B.M., 14 S.W.3d 855 (Tex. App. 2000). “Tex. Fam.Code Ann. § 153.251(a) (Vernon 1996).”
In Re Cbm, 14 S.W.3d 855 (Tex. App. 2000). “TEX. FAM.CODE ANN. § 153.251(a) (Vernon 1996).”
Theodore Stillwell v. Dawn D. Stillwell (Tex. App. 2018).
in the Interest of L. R. A. AKA L. A., a Child v. Dep't of Fam. & Prot. Servs. (Tex. App. 2019). “) (court violated public policy under Texas Family Code § 153.251 and abused its discretion by modifying possession order to limit the father’s contact with children without evidence that doing so was in the children’s best interests).”
Andrew C. Pore v. Cheyenne Ellis (Tex. App. 2021).
— Tex. Fam. Code § 153.251(c) — 5 cases
Coleman v. Coleman, 109 S.W.3d 108 (Tex. App. 2003). “The permanent orders have the effect of allowing the children to be together for only short periods of time.”
Gardner v. Gardner, 229 S.W.3d 747 (Tex. App. 2007). “” Tex. Fam.Code ANN. § 153.251(c) (Vernon 2002).”
in the Interest of T.S., a Child (Tex. App. 2018).
in the Interest of J.N., L.N., K.N., M.N., Child. (Tex. App. 2022).
In the Interest of A.Y.K., M.Y.K. & A.Y.K., Child. v. the State of Texas (Tex. App. 2024).
— Tex. Fam. Code § 153.251(d) — 3 cases
In the Interest of Rodriguez, 940 S.W.2d 265 (Tex. App. 1997). “See TEX. FAM.CODE ANN. §§ 153.251(d), 153.254 (Vernon 1996).”
In the Interest of C.B.M., 14 S.W.3d 855 (Tex. App. 2000). “Tex. Fam.Code Ann. § 153.251(a) (Vernon 1996).”
In Re Cbm, 14 S.W.3d 855 (Tex. App. 2000). “TEX. FAM.CODE ANN. § 153.251(a) (Vernon 1996).”
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