Statement/Scott Schedule. How long do they take?

[JoJo2106]

Hi,

Just after a bit of advice if anyone can help?

Me and ex partner have started going through court in regards to my ex seeing our 10 month old baby. He currently has no contact due to a domestic violence incident at my home. We have attended our first court hearing a couple of weeks or so ago where I represented myself and he had a solicitor. I intend to be represented at future hearings. The court ordered we have to do statements and a Scott schedule to be sent to each other by the 19th July which is next Thursday. I have no clue how to go about this or even the time to do it as i am on my own witha young baby.

If i go to a solicitor early next week could this statement and Scott schedule be done in time to get to my ex partners solicitor by 4pm next Thursday? Does it take long to do?

If it helps the solicitor I will be going to I have used in the past as he sent letters to my ex partners solicitor etc and knows a bit about the whole situation so it's not gonna be like starting from scratch.

I will be entitled to legal aid but waiting on that been applied for with another firm as the other doesn't do legal aid so thought it may be best to get my original solicitor to do this statement and Scott schedule as he will know more of the situation.

I am panicking now that it's not going to be done in time but if it doesn't take too long then hopefully might be ok.

Once you have seen the solicitor, get a time frame to finalise documents, add a few days for shit happens, then write to court, copy to his solr, saying you are getting help with drafting, but will need until then please.

Obviously the other side's deadlines for responding will be extended in consequence.

So I can write to court asking for a bit of extra time? We both have until the 2nd August to reply to statements.

I have been passed from pillar to post really that's why this has taken so long. I went to see a solicitor the week after our first court hearing and she said I will m9st likely qualify for legal aid so I have came away from there and approached a firm that does legal aid. Was meant to see a solicitor yesterday and they have went home Ill and not back until Monday. But because I am starting from scratch with a new solicitor they have said I maybe better to get my original solicitor to do this statement and Scott schedule as they are more aware of the case. Plus they still need to apply for legal aid yet. Obviously now it's Friday and then weekend so not a thing I can do until Monday now and it's cutting it fine to get it to the other side for Thursday. Will it be done in a 1 hour appointment?

No, I would expect it to take longer than that but it depends a lot on circumstances.

I would just write to the court and kindly ask for an extension.

Can I write to court myself or is it best to get a solicitor to do it?

@MrsBertBibby can it be done over couple of hours do you think? I am not having any luck at all in all this court stuff. Not when it comes to solicitors anyway it's just one bit of bad luck after the next. It's a nightmare because my ex has had the same solicitor since January and I have had to chop an change especially recently.

It's impossible to say! See the solicitor, and they should give you an idea based on a) the details of your case and b) the state of their diary.

Ok thank you. I will have to ask for an extension of the time for me to be able to get it all done. Do i just email the court to ask or do I have to write to them do you know?

The court accepts emails these days, but seem to change their email addresses once a week (it seems), so ring them first to make sure you have the current one. You usually get an immediate acknowledgment in reply if you've sent it to the correct address.

@Collaborate thank you I will do that first thing Monday. Another reason I haven't been able to get it all done in time apart from not having a solicitor yet is my daughter is having some serious medical issues and has been quite ill recently. Docs think she possibly has a tumour in her pituitary gland. So what with all that going on and me just been on my own with a young baby it's just been impossible for me to be able to do these statements and a Scott schedule on my own. I don't even know where to begin so definitely need to instruct a solicitor but it's getting in to see one that's been the problem.

I hope they will accept my request for an extension

If you’re having those health issues with your daughter it would be worthwhile you mentioning that. It helps to explain everything, especially something that will elicit the sympathy of the court.

@Collaborate I wasn't sure if i should mention it or not but if you think it could help then I might do that. Not sure how to word it all really. Should I just basically ask for the extra time and mention it's because I want to instruct a solicitor to help me do it and then mention about my daughter too?

Have you heard of this happening before where they will grant extra time etc? I'm kind of screwed if they won't. Unless j can get a solicitor to get it all done asap but how likely thar is I don't know.

It’s a valid reason why you haven’t had the time to deal with it. Of course the judge should know, and unless they are devoid of empathy they will want to accommodate you.