Which time limits may a court lengthen or shorten, and when may it set an additional period for a person living far away?
General information · Not legal advice
Material to check
In the practice file we read the paper that identifies the time limit: the statute or rule it comes from, or the paper in which the court set it, so that we can see whether it is one the court may change. We also check the address or residence recorded in the file and any application asking the court to allow more time.
These are types of material to look for, not evidence already verified by PRO SE.
Where readings differ
One reading takes the first paragraph at face value: the court may lengthen or shorten a period the statute sets or the court itself set, but where the period is a fixed period the proviso says it shall not be so altered, so that limit cannot be moved by this route.
Another reading turns to the second paragraph, which opens a different door for fixed periods: the court may set an additional period for a person whose address or residence is far away. The provision says nothing about how far is far, nor about the length of the additional period, leaving both to be shown from the file.
Your judgment
How far away must an address or residence be before the court may set an additional period for the person concerned?
PRO SE does not make this decision or keep a case record on this public site.When to reconsider
We look at this again if the provision is amended to define the distance or the length of an additional period, or if a court decision sets how far is far enough for that period to be granted.