Dak Prescott Settles Collin County Custody Case One Day Before Hearing

Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott and ex-fiancée Sarah Jane Ramos reached a temporary custody settlement in their Collin County, Texas Suit Affecting the Parent-Child Relationship (SAPCR) one day before a scheduled hearing, according to People. The agreement covers their two daughters, restricts out-of-state travel, and mandates civil communication — but child support and asset division remain open.

Key Facts

Why this matters legally

A SAPCR is the exact legal vehicle Texas uses to decide conservatorship, possession, and support for children born to unmarried parents. Because Prescott and Ramos were engaged but never married, their case proceeds under Tex. Fam. Code Chapter 102 rather than as part of a divorce. This distinction matters: there is no marital estate to divide, so the "asset division" reported in the news is not community property division — it is the allocation of child-related costs, expenses, and any separate financial claims between the parents.

The timing — settling one day before a hearing — reflects a common reality in Texas family courts. The vast majority of contested custody matters resolve through negotiated agreements rather than a judge's ruling. When parents reach terms, the court typically enters those terms as temporary orders under Tex. Fam. Code § 105.001, which govern the family while the case is pending. Temporary orders are enforceable but not permanent; they can be modified before a final order is entered.

How Texas law handles this

Texas presumes that appointing both parents as joint managing conservators serves a child's best interest. Under Tex. Fam. Code § 153.131, a court must appoint parents as joint managing conservators unless doing so would significantly impair the child's physical health or emotional development. Prescott's petition reportedly sought joint managing conservatorship, which aligns with this statutory default. Learn more about how child custody is structured in Texas.

Conservatorship in Texas is about decision-making authority, not physical time. A "joint managing conservator" shares rights and duties — such as decisions about education, medical care, and psychological treatment — but that label does not automatically mean equal parenting time. Physical possession is governed separately by a possession order, most often the Standard Possession Order under Tex. Fam. Code § 153.312. For children under three, however, Texas courts frequently deviate from the Standard Possession Order. Tex. Fam. Code § 153.254 directs courts to craft a possession schedule appropriate to a very young child's needs, considering caregiving history, the child's age, and the ability of each parent to care for the child. With daughters aged 2 and 10 months, any schedule here would fall squarely under this younger-child framework.

The reported travel restriction is also standard Texas practice. Courts routinely include a geographic restriction limiting a child's primary residence to a specific county or contiguous counties, and temporary orders often restrict out-of-state travel to preserve the status quo while the case is pending. These provisions protect both parents' access and prevent one parent from relocating a child before final terms are set. If relocation later becomes an issue, Texas applies a best-interest analysis — a topic covered in our guide to relocation.

Child support in Texas follows a percentage-of-income formula under Tex. Fam. Code § 154.125. For two children, guideline support is generally 25% of the obligor's net monthly resources, calculated on income up to a statutory cap that is periodically adjusted for inflation. High-income obligors like Prescott raise a recurring Texas question: guideline support applies only up to the cap, and additional support above that amount requires proof that the child's proven needs exceed the guideline figure. You can estimate guideline figures with our Texas child support calculator.

Practical takeaways

Whether you are a professional athlete or an ordinary Texas parent, the same statutory framework applies. Here is what this case illustrates:

1. File in the right county. A SAPCR is filed where the child resides. Collin County was the proper venue here because that is where the children live under Tex. Fam. Code § 103.001.

2. Understand the joint-managing default. Texas presumes joint managing conservatorship, but that is about shared decision rights — not a 50/50 time split. Clarify possession and access separately.

3. Expect a young-child schedule. For infants and toddlers, courts under Tex. Fam. Code § 153.254 tailor possession to the child's developmental stage rather than defaulting to the standard schedule. Use our Texas parenting time calculator to model options.

4. Temporary is not final. Settling before a hearing produces temporary orders. Child support and remaining financial issues here are still open and can be litigated or negotiated before a final order. Build a parenting plan that anticipates the transition to permanent terms.

5. Consider settlement seriously. Most Texas custody matters resolve without a trial. A negotiated agreement gives parents control over the outcome that a judge's ruling never can.

If you are navigating a custody dispute in Texas — married or not — mapping your next steps early makes a real difference. You can build a personalized divorce roadmap to understand your options, or find a divorce attorney in your county to discuss your situation.

This article discusses recent news and provides general legal commentary. It does not constitute legal advice. Every case is unique. Consult a qualified family law attorney for advice specific to your situation.