The standard Texas possession order provides for parents who live more than 100 miles apart.

No matter how often we say this on YA, it never seems to sink in: the failure to pay child support has NOTHING to do with visitation rights. They are completely separate and are not tied to one another.

The Texas possession order for parents living more than 100 miles apart provides for longer periods of visitation during holidays since alternating weekend visitation and Wednesday visitation isn’t’ very practical.

First of all, courts can and do order supervised visitation. It tends to be for children of “tender age.” You don’t say how old the child(ren) is.

Second, you generally have to show some negligence or realistic concern on the other parent’s part that would lead the court to believe that parent needed a “monitor” while exercising his visitation.

Third, you’d have to supply the name of a person you believe could and would be a good monitor. That monitor must generally be acceptable to the opposing party, or you will be subject to the charge that you are interfering with visitation by placing a “spy” of your own in the visitation process. And the monitor must agree to do the monitor’s job.

Since you live so far apart, what you are really asking is that the child go and live with the monitor while giving the father limited access to the child to effect his visitation. The court may look askance at this, especially if you can’t produce any evidence of the father being unfit as a parent (remember, non-payment of child support doesn’t count).

The answer to your question is YES, you can modify to do supervised visitation.

** Note: This is a general discussion of the subject matter of your question and not legal advice. Local laws or your particular situation may change the general rules. For a specific answer to your question you should consult legal counsel with whom you can discuss all the facts of your case. Answering this question does not indicate an attorney-client relationship. **