Rule 408.Requests for Admission

Part IV. Disclosure, Discovery, and Subpoena · Last amended July 1, 2021 · Last verified September 4, 2026

In one sentenceRule 408 allows up to 40 requests for admission, treats an unanswered request as admitted after 30 days, and makes an admission conclusively established.

Full Text of Rule 408

Text sizeJump to: (a) (b) (c) (d) (e) (f) (g)

(a) In General.

(1) Number. Unless the parties stipulate or the court finds good cause to allow a specific number of requests for admissions, a party may serve on any other party no more than 40 requests for admissions.

(2) Scope. A party may serve on any other party a written request to admit, for purposes of the pending action only, the truth of any matters within the scope of Rule 402 relating to:

(A) facts, the application of law to fact, or opinions about either; and

(B) the genuineness of any described documents.

(3) When May be Served. Requests for admission may be served pursuant to Rule 402.

(b) Procedure.

(1) Form; Copy of a Document. Each matter must be separately stated. A request to admit the genuineness of a document must be accompanied by a copy of the document unless it is, or has been, otherwise furnished or made available for inspection and copying.

(2) 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 on the requesting party a written answer or objection addressed to the matter and signed by the party or its attorney. A shorter or longer time for responding may be stipulated to or be ordered by the court.

(3) Answer. If a matter is not admitted, the answer must specifically deny it or state in detail why the answering party cannot truthfully admit or deny it. A denial must fairly respond to the substance of the matter; and when good faith requires that a party qualify an answer or deny only part of a matter, the answer must specify the part admitted and qualify or deny the rest. The answering party may assert lack of knowledge or information as a reason for failing to admit or deny only if the party states that it has made reasonable inquiry and that the information it knows or can readily obtain is insufficient to enable it to admit or deny. The answers must first set forth each request for admission made, followed by the answer, objection, or other response of the party.

(4) Objections. The grounds for objecting to a request must be stated. A party may not object solely on the ground that the request presents a genuine issue for trial.

(5) Motion Regarding the Sufficiency of an Answer or Objection. The requesting party may move to determine the sufficiency of an answer or objection. Unless the court finds an objection justified, it must order that an answer must be completed and served. On finding that an answer does not comply with this rule, the court may either order that the matter is admitted or that an amended answer be served. The court may defer its final decision until a pretrial conference or a specified time before trial. Rule 417 applies to an award of expenses.

(c) Effect of an Admission; Withdrawing or Amending an Admission. A matter admitted under this rule is conclusively established unless the court, on motion, permits the admission to be withdrawn or amended. The court may permit withdrawal or amendment if it would promote the presentation of the merits of the action and if the court is not persuaded that it would prejudice the requesting party in maintaining or defending the action on its merits. An admission under this rule is not an admission for any other purpose and cannot be used against the party in any other proceeding.

(d) Documents Attached to Pleadings. The genuineness, accuracy, or truth of any document attached to a pleading must not be deemed as admitted by the other party because of a failure to make a verified denial of it in a responsive pleading or affidavit.

(e) Use of Admissions with Court. If admissions are to be used at trial or in support or opposition to any motion, only the portion of the admissions relied upon should be submitted to the court. Unless a genuine issue of authenticity is raised, a party may submit excerpts from copies of the original admissions or answers and is not required to submit the originals to the court.

(f) Not Filed with Court. Neither the requests for admission nor the responses are to be filed with the court. The propounding party must maintain the original requests and the original responses, along with the original proof of service, for one year following the final disposition of the action and expiration of any period for appeal, unless the court orders that they be retained for a longer period.

(g) Notice of Service. The party serving requests and responses to them must file with the court a notice of when and on whom it was served.

End

Rule History

(Adopted March 29, 2021, effective July 1, 2021.)

Plain-English Summary

Rule 408 is the narrowing tool: it takes facts off the table before trial.

Number and scope

No more than 40 requests unless the parties stipulate or the court finds good cause. A request may ask a party to admit, for purposes of the pending action only, the truth of matters within Rule 402's scope relating to facts, the application of law to fact, or opinions about either, and the genuineness of described documents. Each matter must be separately stated, and a genuineness request must be accompanied by a copy of the document unless it has otherwise been furnished or made available.

Silence admits

This is the provision that catches people. A matter is admitted unless, within 30 days, the party serves a written answer or objection signed by the party or its attorney. No motion is needed and no order is entered; the admission simply happens.

What a proper answer looks like

A matter not admitted must be specifically denied, or the answer must state in detail why the party cannot truthfully admit or deny. A denial must fairly respond to the substance, and where good faith requires qualification or a partial denial, the answer must specify the part admitted and qualify or deny the rest.

Lack of knowledge is available only on a stated showing of reasonable inquiry and that the information known or readily obtainable is insufficient. Grounds for objecting must be stated, and a party may not object solely because the request presents a genuine issue for trial. As with interrogatories, the answers must first set forth each request followed by the response.

The requesting party may move to determine the sufficiency of an answer or objection. Unless the objection is justified, the court must order an answer completed and served; if an answer does not comply, the court may order the matter admitted or an amended answer served, and may defer until a pretrial conference or a specified time before trial.

Effect

An admitted matter is conclusively established unless the court permits withdrawal or amendment — which it may do if that would promote presentation of the merits and the court is not persuaded it would prejudice the requesting party. An admission is not an admission for any other purpose and cannot be used in any other proceeding.

Two related provisions

Section (d) is easy to miss: the genuineness, accuracy or truth of a document attached to a pleading is not admitted by failing to deny it in a responsive pleading or affidavit. And under Rule 417(e)(2), a party who refuses to admit something later proved may be ordered to pay the cost of proving it, unless the request was objectionable, the matter was of no substantial importance, the party had reasonable ground to believe it might prevail, or there was other good reason.

Frequently Asked Questions

What happens if I ignore a request for admission?

It is admitted. Rule 408(b)(2) admits a matter unless, within 30 days after being served, the party serves a written answer or objection signed by the party or its attorney.

How many requests for admission are allowed?

Rule 408(a)(1) allows no more than 40 unless the parties stipulate or the court finds good cause.

Can I answer that I do not know?

Only on a showing. Rule 408(b)(3) permits asserting lack of knowledge or information only if the party states it has made reasonable inquiry and that the information it knows or can readily obtain is insufficient to admit or deny.

Can an admission be withdrawn?

Rule 408(c) makes an admitted matter conclusively established unless the court permits withdrawal or amendment, which it may do if that would promote presentation of the merits and would not prejudice the requesting party.

Is a document attached to a pleading admitted if I do not deny it?

No. Rule 408(d) provides that the genuineness, accuracy or truth of a document attached to a pleading must not be deemed admitted because of a failure to make a verified denial in a responsive pleading or affidavit.

What if I refuse to admit something that turns out to be true?

Rule 417(e)(2) allows the requesting party to move for the reasonable expenses, including attorney fees, incurred in proving it, and the court must so order unless the request was objectionable, the matter was of no substantial importance, the party had reasonable ground to believe it might prevail, or there was other good reason.

Source & verification. Rule text and Rule History reproduced verbatim from the Idaho Rules of Family Law Procedure as published by the Idaho Supreme Court, current through amendments effective July 1, 2026. Promulgated by the Supreme Court of Idaho (Idaho Const. art. V, sec. 25). Last verified September 4, 2026. · Official text

Also known as: requests for admission40 requestsdeemed admitted30 daysconclusively establishedwithdrawing an admission