Court ordered timetable - amendments?

Hi,

My STBX has admitted four incidents of assault on our DS1. As a consequence he has to undergo a psychiatric assessment. The court laid down a timetable - apparently the expert cannot see STBX within this timetable and his solicitor has asked me to agree to the psychiatric assessment and subsequent report being conducted later and has given me a new timetable.

I am self-rep'ing.

I assume that this is OK and that I just agree to the change in timetable and point out in my letter that the whole timetable slides by 2-3 weeks. This means that I will still get to submit written questions for the expert (2-3 weeks later than currently stated in the court order).

We are due back in court in June so I don't see it is going to hold anything up.

Advice would be much appreciated.

Thanks!

As long as the new timetable gives you the same amount of time for any steps you were supposed to have (i.e. if you had 2 weeks for something and you still have 2 weeks) and it does not delay anything, then yes, agree. Often experts have to jig about with timeframes, but they often try their best to ensure there is no delay.

DL - Thank you.

The order actually states:

"The parties may agree variations to the timetable, but shall not postpone the date by which the report must be completed for the date by which any questions must be answered. Subject to that, the father shall apply for further Directions if this timetable is breached, or it becomes apparent that it cannot be complied with for any reason."

timetable in the order states -

24/02/10 - the expert's report to be filed.
10/03/10 - written questions to expert.
24/03/10 - expert to reply

Now:

STBX cannot be seen by expert until 4 March.

So the whole timeframe just slides?