Brownwood News – The 35th Judicial District Court for Brown and Mills Counties and the County Court at Law for Brown County has released a statement regarding periods of possession and access under the Texas Family Code.
Due to the extraordinary situation presented by Coronavirus (COVID-19) concerns, questions and confusion have arisen regarding the interpretation of periods of possession/visitation in both Final Orders and Temporary Orders rendered out of the above-noted Courts. For that reason, these Courts now issue this statement of clarification:
For purposes of all orders issued out of the above-noted Courts, the Spring Break Vacation period ends at 6:00 p.m. on the day before school would have resumed after that vacation. Any decision by any school or school district to delay resumption of classes (whether characterized as a “closure,” and “extended delay,” an “extended Spring Break,” or an extended “vacation”) is considered to be a closure for public health purposes, and not an extension of a vacation period. These Courts are enforcing the Standard Possession Orders for Spring Break and for Expanded Thursday through Sunday Possession Orders pursuant to the originally published school calendars.
As always, the parties to a case may agree to alter the period of possession and access. If the parties agree to do so, the Courts would urge the parties to set out the terms of their agreement in writing and have it signed by all parties.
Stephen Ellis, District Judge
35th Judicial District, Brown and Mills Counties
Sam Moss, County Court at Law Judge
Brown County
