Division V: Discovery and Inspection · Last amended January 1, 2019 · Last verified July 15, 2026
In one sentenceRule 1.510 lets a party serve up to 30 written requests asking another to admit facts, opinions applying law to fact, or document authenticity, with the matter deemed admitted unless the responding party serves a specific written answer or objection within 30 days.
1.510(1)Availability; procedures for requests. 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 1.503 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.
Each matter of which an admission is requested shall be separately set forth. A party shall not serve more than 30 requests for admission on any other party except upon agreement of the parties or leave of court granted upon a showing of good cause. A motion for leave of court to serve more than 30 requests for admission must be in writing and shall set forth the proposed requests and the reasons establishing good cause for their use.
(2)Time for and content of responses. The matter is admitted unless, within 30 days after service of the request, or within such shorter or longer time as the court may on motion allow, 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, but, unless the court shortens the time, a defendant shall not be required to serve answers or objections before the expiration of 60 days after service of the original notice upon defendant.
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 the party's 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 1.517 (3) deny the matter or set forth reasons why the party cannot admit or deny it.
(3)Determining sufficiency of responses. The party who has requested the admission 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 pretrial conference or at a designated time prior to trial. The provisions of rule 1.517 (1)(d) apply to the award of expenses incurred in relation to the motion.
Plain-English Summary
A request for admission asks the other side to concede a point outright rather than dispute it through the whole case. Rule 1.510(1) lets a party request admissions on any matter within the scope of Rule 1.503 that relates to statements or opinions of fact, or the application of law to fact, including whether a described document is genuine. Copies of any documents at issue must be served with the request unless already available to the other side. Each matter must be set out separately, and a party may not serve more than 30 requests on any other party absent agreement or a court order granted on a written motion showing good cause.
Silence is costly under this rule: a matter is admitted unless the responding party serves a written answer or objection within 30 days, though the court can adjust that period and no defendant need respond before 60 days from service of the original notice that started the case. An objection must state its reasons; an answer must specifically deny the matter or explain in detail why the party can neither admit nor deny it, and if only part is true in good faith, the party must admit that part and qualify or deny the rest. A party cannot plead lack of information unless it states it made reasonable inquiry and the information it could reasonably obtain still is not enough to answer. Believing the matter presents a genuine issue for trial is, by itself, no ground to refuse — the party must still answer or explain.
If the answers or objections fall short, Rule 1.510(3) lets the requesting party move to test their sufficiency. The court orders an answer served unless it finds the objection justified, or, if an answer does not meet the rule's requirements, may order the matter admitted or an amended answer served — or push final disposition to a pretrial conference. Expense-shifting under Rule 1.517(1)(d) applies to that motion.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens if I don't respond to a request for admission?
Rule 1.510(2) deems the matter admitted if you do not serve a written answer or objection within 30 days after service of the request, or within whatever shorter or longer period the court sets.
How long do I have to respond to requests for admission?
Generally 30 days, but a defendant need not serve answers or objections before 60 days after being served with the original notice that started the case, unless the court shortens that time.
How many requests for admission can be served on one party?
Rule 1.510(1) caps the number at 30 unless the parties agree to more or the court grants leave on a written motion showing good cause.
Can I object to a request for admission just because I think the issue should go to trial?
No. Rule 1.510(2) states that 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 can I do if the other side's answers to my requests for admission are evasive or incomplete?
Rule 1.510(3) lets you move to determine the sufficiency of the answers or objections; the court can order a proper answer served, deem the matter admitted, or order an amended answer.
Source & verification. Rule text and the Comment are
reproduced verbatim from the Iowa Rules of Civil Procedure, adopted by the
Iowa Supreme Court. Last verified July 15, 2026.
· Official source
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