(a) Request for Admission. A party may serve upon any other party a written request for the admission, for purposes of the pending action only, of the truth of any matters within the scope of Rule 26(b)(1) set forth in the request that relate to statements or opinions of fact or of the application of law to fact, including the genuineness of any documents described in the request. Copies of documents shall be served with the request unless they have been or are otherwise furnished or made available for inspection and copying. Without leave of court or written stipulation, requests for admission may not be served before the time specified in Rule 26(d). Each matter of which an admission is requested shall be separately set forth. The matter is admitted unless, within 30 days after service of the request, or within such shorter or longer time as the court may allow or as the parties may agree to in writing, subject to Rule 29, the party to whom the request is directed serves upon the party requesting the admission a written answer or objection addressed to the matter, signed by the party or by the party’s attorney. If objection is made, the reasons therefor shall be stated. The answer shall specifically deny the matter or set forth in detail the reasons why the answering party cannot truthfully admit or deny the matter. A denial shall fairly meet the substance of the requested admission, and when good faith requires that a party qualify an answer or deny only a part of the matter of which an admission is requested, the party shall specify so much of it as is true and qualify or deny the remainder. An answering party may not give lack of information or knowledge as a reason for failure to admit or deny unless the party states that the party has made reasonable inquiry and that the information known or readily obtainable by the party is insufficient to enable the party to admit or deny. A party who considers that a matter of which an admission has been requested presents a genuine issue for trial may not, on that ground alone, object to the request; the party may, subject to the provisions of Rule 37(c), deny the matter or set forth reasons why the party cannot admit or deny it. The party who has requested the admissions may move to determine the sufficiency of the answers or objections. Unless the court determines that an objection is justified, it shall order that an answer be served. If the court determines that an answer does not comply with the requirements of this rule, it may order either that the matter is admitted or that an amended answer be served. The court may, in lieu of these orders, determine that final disposition of the request be made at a pre-trial conference or at a designated time prior to trial. The provisions of Rule 37(a)(4) apply to the award of expenses incurred in relation to the motion.
(b) Effect of Admission. Any matter admitted under this rule is conclusively established unless the court on motion permits withdrawal or amendment of the admission. Subject to the provision of Rule 16 governing amendment of a pre-trial order, the court may permit withdrawal or amendment when the presentation of the merits of the action will be subserved thereby and the party who obtained the admission fails to satisfy the court that withdrawal or amendment will prejudice that party in maintaining the action or defense on the merits. Any admission made by a party under this rule is for the purpose of the pending action only and is not an admission for any other purpose nor may it be used against the party in any other proceeding.
(As amended Dec. 27, 1946, eff. Mar. 19, 1948; Mar. 30, 1970, eff. July 1, 1970; Mar. 2, 1987, eff. Aug. 1, 1987; Apr. 22, 1993, eff. Dec. 1, 1993.)
added in current removed in current
Compared to current version (2025).
(a) Request for AdmissionScope and Procedure.
(1) Scope. A party may serve upon any other party a written request for the admissionto admit, for purposes of the pending action only, of the truth of any matters within the scope of Rule 26(b)(1) set forth in the request that relate to statements or opinions of fact or of the application of law to fact, including the genuineness of any documents described in the request. Copierelating to:
(A) facts, the application of law to fact, or opinions about either; and
(B) the genuineness of any described documents.
(2) Form; Copy of a Document. Each matter must be separately stated. A request to admit the genuineness of a documents shall be served with the request unless they must be accompanied by a copy of the document unless it is, or haves been or are, otherwise furnished or made available for inspection and copying. Without leave of court or written stipulation, requests for admission may not be served before the time specified in Rule 26(d). Each matter of which an admission is requested shall be separately set forth. The matter is admitted unless, within 30 days after service of the request, or within such shorter or longer time as the court may allow or as the parties may agree to in writing, subject to Rule 29
(3) Time to Respond; Effect of Not Responding. A matter is admitted unless, within 30 days after being served, the party to whom the request is directed serves upon the party requesting the admissionparty a written answer or objection addressed to the matter, and signed by the party or by the party’s attorney. If objection is made, the reasons therefor shall be stated. Tits attorney. A shorter or longer time for responding may be stipulated to under Rule 29 or be ordered by the court.
(4) Answer. If a matter is not admitted, the answer shallmust specifically deny the matter or set forth in detail the reasonsit or state in detail why the answering party cannot truthfully admit or deny ithe matter. A denial shallmust fairly meetrespond to the substance of the requested admission,matter; and when good faith requires that a party qualify an answer or deny only a part of thea matter of which an admission is requested, the party shall specify so much of it as is true, the answer must specify the part admitted and qualify or deny the remainder. Anst. The answering party may not giveassert lack of information or knowledgeknowledge or information as a reason for failureing to admit or deny uonlessy if the party states that ithe party has made reasonable inquiry and that the information it knowns or can readily obtainable by the party is insufficient to enable ithe party to admit or deny. A party who considers that a matter of which an admission has been requested presents a genuine issue for trial may not,
(5) Objections. The grounds for objecting to a request must be stated. A party must not object solely on thate ground alone, object to the request; the party may, subject to the provisions of Rule 37(c), deny the matter or set forth reasons why the party cannot admit or deny it. The party who has requested the admissionsthat the request presents a genuine issue for trial.
(6) Motion Regarding the Sufficiency of an Answer or Objection. The requesting party may move to determine the sufficiency of thean answers or objections. Unless the court determfineds that an objection is justified, it shallmust order that an answer be served. If the court determinesOn finding that an answer does not comply with the requirements of this rule, iis rule, the court may order either that the matter is admitted or that an amended answer be served. The court may, in lieu of these orders, determine that final disposition of the request be made at defer its final decision until a pre-trial conference or at a designated time prior to trial. The provisions of specified time before trial. Rule 37(a)(45) applyies to thean award of expenses incurred in relation to the motion.
(b) Effect of an Admission; Withdrawing or Amending It. Any matter admitted under this rule is conclusively established unless the court, on motion, permits the admission to be withdrawaln or amendment of the admission. Subject to the provision of Rule 16 governing amendment of a pre-trial ordered. Subject to Rule 16(e), the court may permit withdrawal or amendment whenif it would promote the presentation of the merits of the action will be subserved thereby and the party who obtained the admission fails to satisfy the courtand if the court is not persuaded that withdrawal or amendment will would prejudice thate requesting party in maintaining or defending the action or defense on the merits. Any admission made by a party under this rule is for the purpose of the pending action only and is not an admission for any other purpose nor may iand cannot be used against the party in any other proceeding.
(As amended Dec. 27, 1946, eff. Mar. 19, 1948; Mar. 30, 1970, eff. July 1, 1970; Mar. 2, 1987, eff. Aug. 1, 1987; Apr. 22, 1993, eff. Dec. 1, 1993; Apr. 30, 2007, eff. Dec. 1, 2007.)