Prosecutors requested the evaluation of David Edenfield, 59, after his defense lawyers said in recent court filings that Edenfield's "psychological condition may become an issue" at his trial.
Jury selection is scheduled to begin Monday and the trial could begin as early as Sept. 28.
Edenfield will be the first of three family members to stand trial in the March 2007 slaying of a young neighbor, Christopher Michael Barrios, whose body was found in a trash bag dumped by a road after he was sexually assaulted and choked to death.
Superior Court Judge Stephen Scarlett granted prosecutors' request for a state expert to examine Edenfield on Friday. The evaluation is not expected to delay the trial.
In a court filing, District Attorney Stephen Kelley said prosecutors needed their own examination of Edenfield to be able to respond to any trial evidence presented by the defense regarding Edenfield's mental competency.
Kelley said Edenfield's attorneys, James Yancey Jr. and John Beall IV, have previously told prosecutors "that mental retardation is not an issue in this case."
Scarlett said in his ruling that if Edenfield doesn't cooperate, or if his lawyers fail to share copies of documents provided to the defense psychologist, they won't be able to use any of it as evidence at his trial.
Also charged in the boy's slaying are Edenfield's wife, Peggy Edenfield, and his 33-year-old son, George Edenfield.
Prosecutors also plan to seek the death penalty against George Edenfield, a convicted child molester. Peggy Edenfield cut a deal to avoid the death penalty if she testifies against her husband and son.
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