What Is a Request for Admission? (Use Cases, Guides & More)

What Is a Request for Admission?

In civil procedure, a request for admission is a written statement that one party serves on the other party during discovery. The goal is to get clear answers about specific facts or the authenticity of documents.

When the responding party (sometimes called the answering party) receives the request, they must either admit, deny, or explain why they can’t respond after making a reasonable inquiry. If they don’t answer at all, the request may be treated as admitted by default.

For example, one side might ask the other party to admit that a contract was signed on a certain date, or that an email is genuine.

So, by resolving these points early, both sides can focus on the issues that are actually in dispute.

Want to simplify the way you draft or respond to requests for admission? Book a demo with Briefpoint today.

How Requests for Admission Work

An RFA is served during the discovery stage of a lawsuit. Like interrogatories or document requests, it’s one of several discovery requests lawyers can use to narrow down the issues.

But instead of asking for new information, it’s focused on getting the other side to confirm or deny specific facts.

Here’s a step-by-step process:

• The party requesting sends the written request
  • The request is drafted as simple statements of fact or the authenticity of documents.
  • Each statement should cover only a part of an issue so that it can be clearly admitted or denied.
• The responding party must reply
  • The law requires them to either admit, specifically deny, object, or explain why they cannot admit or deny after making a reasonable inquiry.
  • If there’s an objection, the court may order the objection addressed before a final response is given.
• The effect of admission
  • If a matter is admitted, it’s conclusively established in the case. That means it no longer needs to be proven at trial.
  • Once admitted, it’s very difficult to withdraw unless the court allows it.

Key Points to Remember

• Qualified answers are allowed: If a request is partly true and partly false, the responding side can admit only a part and deny the rest.
• On qualifying an answer: Should a court require that a party qualify an answer, the response must fairly meet the substance of the request and state the limits clearly.
• Be specific: A party must specifically deny any part that’s not admitted. Vague denials won’t cut it.
• Objections aren’t the last word: A court can order an objection addressed and require a straight answer.

Common Uses of Requests for Admission

Requests for admission play a big role in the discovery process. They don’t seek new evidence. Instead, they confirm what’s true and what isn’t.

When a party gives a clear written answer, like stating whether they admit or deny a fact, both sides save time and keep the case focused.

Confirming Facts and Documents

Lawyers often use admissions to lock down simple facts. Under the federal rules, if the fact is clear, within the knowledge of the responding party, and readily obtainable, the party should truthfully admit it.

For example, admitting the date a contract was signed or confirming that a letter came from a certain office. Once admitted, the fact is conclusively established in the pending action and doesn’t need to be proven again at trial.

Narrowing Issues for Trial

Courts want parties to avoid wasting time on issues where there’s no genuine issue. A request may ask the other side to admit that a medical record came from a specific clinic.

If admitted, that point is settled and can’t be argued later. If the court permits, an admission can sometimes be used in another proceeding, not just the current lawsuit.

Avoiding Unnecessary Disputes

Some questions don’t go to the sole cause of the case, but still matter. Admissions can confirm details like addresses, company names, or whether a message was sent. 

Using direct questions for these points saves everyone from doing additional discovery on things that aren’t really in dispute.

Supporting or Limiting Interrogatories

In some courts, admissions are included in standard form interrogatories. In others, they’re sent separately. Either way, they work together.

Interrogatories ask for explanations, while admissions push the other side to take a clear stand. This keeps the other party from changing positions later without a good reason.

Handling Mixed Questions

Sometimes a request involves both fact and opinion, creating mixed questions. Courts often require a response anyway, but the party can qualify their answer if needed.

The important part is that the written answer addresses the request fairly and completely.

Clarifying Case Law Positions

Admissions can also help shape how case law applies. If a legal rule depends on whether notice was given, one side might ask the other to admit that notice was sent on a certain date. 

That way, the legal debate is focused on how the law applies, not on whether the fact happened.

Serving Other Purposes

Finally, requests can serve other purposes, like authenticating documents or setting up facts for settlement talks.

Whatever the reason, they make it easier for the parties, the judge, and even the jury to focus on the truth instead of wasting time on points no one really disputes.

Do You Always Need to Respond?

Yes. If you receive a request for admission, you’re expected to reply within the designated time set by the court rules, usually 30 days.

Skipping a response can lead to the requests being treated as admitted, which can change the outcome of a case involving disputed facts. 

Unlike special interrogatories, which ask for explanations, admissions are meant to pin down facts directly. Courts expect the responding party to give a clear answer.

Here are a few key points to remember:

• A party must either truthfully admit, deny, or object to each request.
• If the directed serves of the request are proper and within the rules, silence counts as an admission.
• Admissions can be used in the current case and sometimes in other proceedings if the judge allows it.
• Courts may revisit discovery responses during a pretrial conference to decide if more discovery requests are needed.

Drafting Requests for Admission

Drafting requests for admission isn’t foolproof, but in general, there are best practices that help keep things clear and within the discovery rules.

Rule 36 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure is the starting point. It explains how a requesting party can send written statements and how the other side must respond.

If the party states an admission, that matter admitted becomes binding unless changed through an amended answer with the court’s permission.

• Keep each request simple: Rule 36 expects each request to cover only one fact or the authenticity of one document. That way, the other side can clearly admit or deny it. If a request is too long or complicated, the judge may not enforce it.
• Stay within discovery rules: Different courts set limits on how many requests may be served. Always check local discovery rules before sending them. This prevents objections and delays later.
• Think about trial strategy: The best requests target facts that will matter in front of the jury. Once a matter admitted is on record, it’s conclusively established for trial.
• Understand the cost of denial: Rule 36 also allows judges to order a party to pay expenses incurred if they deny something that later turns out to be true. This makes it risky to deny a request without a good reason.
• Amending answers: If circumstances change, the responding party can file an amended answer, but only with court approval. Judges will usually allow it if it won’t unfairly harm the requesting party.

Responding to a Request for Admission

When a party receives the request, the clock starts ticking. Whether you’re the defendant or the plaintiff, you have to provide a response within the set deadline.

Courts treat a failure to respond as an admission, which can shift the entire case. That’s why most lawyers stress answering carefully and on time.

Role of the Attorney

An attorney usually reviews each request with the client, checks the facts, and decides how to respond. The answer must be honest and specific, which means no vague denials.

If a party admits a fact, that admission counts as proof in the case and doesn’t need to be argued again.

Standards for Responses

• A party can admit, deny, or explain why they can’t respond.
• Good faith requires a real effort to check the facts before denying. Courts don’t accept blanket denials when the truth could be confirmed with reasonable effort.
• If a response is missing or incomplete, the other side can file a motion asking the court to treat the request as admitted.

Using Document Automation

Many firms now rely on document automation tools to draft responses. These tools help organize requests, track deadlines, and prepare clear answers.

While they don’t replace legal judgment, they reduce errors and make sure responses go out on time.

Achieve Faster, Smarter Discovery With Briefpoint

Requests for admission may not get as much attention as depositions or interrogatories, but they’re one of the most efficient ways to narrow issues in a case. 

When handled well, they save time, reduce litigation costs, and keep a trial focused on the real disputes instead of minor details.

We just looked at how responses work, including the growing role of document automation in drafting them. Automation makes it easier to prepare clear responses, stay on top of deadlines, and keep every request organized.

Briefpoint takes this a step further by giving lawyers purpose-built tools for discovery.

Briefpoint helps lawyers propound and respond to requests for admission, requests for production, and interrogatories across all U.S. states and federal districts. 

The platform generates objection-aware drafts, applies the right formatting, and saves hours that would otherwise be spent editing line by line.

If you’re ready to cut drafting time without losing quality, Briefpoint can help. Book a demo and see how you can automate discovery today.