(a) Each matter of which an admission is requested is admitted unless, within thirty days after the filing of the notice required by Section 13-22 (b), or within such shorter or longer time as the judicial authority may allow, the party to whom the request is directed files and serves upon the party requesting the admission a written answer or objection addressed to the matter, signed by the party or by his attorney. Any such answer or objection shall be inserted directly on the original request. In the event that an answer or objection requires more space than that provided on a request for admission that was not served electronically and in a format that allows the recipient to electronically insert the answers in the transmitted document, it shall be continued on a separate sheet of paper which shall be attached to the response. Documents sought to be admitted by the request shall be filed with the response by the responding party only if they are the subject of an answer or objection. 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 his or her answer or deny only a part of the matter of which an admission is requested, such 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 such party states that he or she has made reasonable inquiry and that the information known or readily obtainable by him or her is insufficient to enable an admission or denial. 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 deny the matter or set forth reasons why he or she cannot admit or deny it. The responding party shall attach a cover sheet to the response which shall comply with Sections 4-1 and 4-2 and shall specify those requests to which answers and objections are addressed.
Section 13-23.—Answers and Objections to Requests for Admission
Current through August 12, 2025 (2026 Practice Book edition) · Last verified July 9, 2026
In one sentenceSection 13-23 gives a party thirty days after notice of a request for admission to serve a signed written answer or objection, spells out how denials and objections must be worded, and lets the requesting party ask the court to rule on an inadequate response.
Full Text of Section 13-23
(b) The party who has requested the admission may move to determine the sufficiency of the answer or objection. No such motion shall be placed on the short calendar list until an affidavit by either counsel is filed certifying that bona fide attempts have been made to resolve the differences concerning the subject matter of the motion and that counsel have been unable to reach an accord. Unless the judicial authority determines that an objection is justified, it shall order that an answer be served. If the judicial authority 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 judicial authority may, in lieu of these orders, determine that final disposition of the request be made at a designated time prior to trial.
Amendment History
(P.B. 1978-1997, Sec. 239.) (Amended June 30, 2008, to take effect Jan. 1, 2009.)
Plain-English Summary
Section 13-23 governs how a party responds to a request for admission. Each matter is deemed admitted unless, within thirty days after the notice under Section 13-22 (b) is filed — or a shorter or longer time the judicial authority allows — the responding party files and serves a signed written answer or objection. The answer or objection goes directly on the original request, continuing on an attached sheet if needed. A denial must specifically deny the matter or explain in detail why the party cannot truthfully admit or deny it, and must meet the substance of what was asked; if only part of a matter is true, the party must admit that part and qualify or deny the rest. A party cannot cite lack of information or knowledge as a reason to refuse to admit or deny unless it states it made reasonable inquiry and still lacks enough information. Believing a matter presents a genuine issue for trial is not, by itself, a valid basis to object — the party must instead deny it or explain why it cannot. Documents the request seeks to have admitted are filed with the response only if they are the subject of an answer or objection, and a cover sheet must identify which requests the answers or objections address.
The party who requested the admission may move to determine whether an answer or objection is sufficient, but that motion cannot go on the short calendar until an affidavit confirms the parties made good-faith attempts to resolve the dispute and could not agree. If the judicial authority finds an objection unjustified, it orders an answer served; if an answer does not meet the rule’s requirements, the judicial authority may order the matter admitted or require an amended answer, or may instead defer final disposition of the request to a set time before trial.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long do I have to respond to a request for admission in Connecticut?
Thirty days after the notice required by Section 13-22 (b) is filed, unless the judicial authority allows a shorter or longer time.
What happens if I do not respond to a request for admission in time?
Each matter in the request is deemed admitted unless a written answer or objection is filed and served within the thirty-day period.
Can I object to a request for admission just because I think it raises a genuine issue for trial?
No. Believing a matter presents a genuine issue for trial is not by itself a valid ground for objection; the party must instead deny the matter or explain why it cannot admit or deny it.
What must I show before asking the court to rule on the sufficiency of an answer?
An affidavit certifying that both sides made good-faith attempts to resolve the dispute over the answer or objection and could not reach agreement, filed before the motion can be placed on the short calendar.
Source & verification. The section text is reproduced verbatim from the
official Connecticut Practice Book (Conn. Practice Book § 13-23). Prescribed by the Judges of the Superior Court of Connecticut (Conn. Gen. Stat. Section 51-14). The plain-English summary is original and written by us. Last verified July 9, 2026. ·
Official source
Also known as: answering a request for admission CTobjecting to request for admission Connecticutdeadline to respond to request for admissionmotion to determine sufficiency of answer