Title V: Discovery · Last amended July 1, 2016 · Last verified July 14, 2026
In one sentenceRule 36 lets a party serve written requests asking another party to admit facts, the application of law to facts, or the genuineness of documents, and treats an unanswered request as admitted after 30 days.
(1)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 26(b)(1) relating 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 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.
(3)When may be served. Requests for admission may be served on the plaintiff after commencement of the suit and upon any other party with or after service of the summons and complaint.
(4)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 under Rule 29 or be ordered by the court.
(5)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 a 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.
(6)Objections. The grounds for objecting to a request must be stated. A party must not object solely on the ground that the request presents a genuine issue for trial.
(7)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 be served. On finding that an answer does not comply with this rule, the court may order either 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 37(a)(5) applies to an award of expenses.
(b)Effect of an admission; Withdrawing or amending it. 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 the 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.
(c)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.
(d)Use of admissions with the court. If admissions are to be used at trial or in support or opposition to any motion, only the portion of the admissions relied 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.
(1)Non-filing. Neither the requests 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 1 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.
(2)Notice of serving. The party serving requests and responses to them must file with the court a notice of when and upon whom it was served.
Amendment History
(Adopted March 1, 2016, effective July 1, 2016.)
Plain-English Summary
A request for admission asks the other side to concede something outright, narrowing what needs to be proved at trial. Rule 36 lets a party ask another party to admit facts, opinions about facts, how the law applies to those facts, or that a described document is genuine — a copy of the document has to come with the request unless it's already been furnished or made available. Requests go out to the plaintiff once suit begins and to any other party once served with the summons and complaint. If the party receiving the request doesn't serve a signed written answer or objection within 30 days, absent a different deadline, the matter is deemed admitted automatically. Answering means either admitting, specifically denying, or explaining in detail why the party can't truthfully do either; a denial has to address the substance of what's asked, and if only part of a request is true, the answer has to admit that part and qualify or deny the rest. Claiming lack of knowledge only works if the party states it made a reasonable inquiry and still can't get enough information to answer. Objections have to state their grounds, and a party can't object just because the request touches something that will be contested at trial. If either side thinks an answer or objection falls short, a motion asking the court to rule on its sufficiency is available, and the court can order a proper answer served or deem the matter admitted.
Once something is admitted under this rule, it's conclusively established for that case — no more proof needed — unless the court, on motion, allows the admission to be withdrawn or amended because doing so would help resolve the case on its merits without unfairly prejudicing the other side. That admission has no life outside the case it was made in; it can't be used against the party in any other proceeding. A document attached to a pleading isn't automatically deemed admitted just because nobody filed a verified denial of it — that's a separate concept from a Rule 36 request. When admissions come up at trial or on a motion, only the relevant portion needs to go before the court, and copies work fine unless someone disputes authenticity. As with interrogatories and document requests, requests for admission and the answers to them stay out of the court file, though the propounding party keeps the originals for a year and files a notice of when and on whom they were served.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens if I don't respond to a request for admission in time?
The matter is deemed admitted automatically. Rule 36(a)(4) gives 30 days to serve a signed written answer or objection, absent a different deadline set by stipulation or court order, and missing that window locks in the admission.
Is a request for admission the same thing as an RFA or a request to admit?
Yes — those are all names for the same tool. A requesting party asks the other side to admit specific facts, legal conclusions applied to facts, or the genuineness of a document.
Can I object to a request for admission just because I plan to contest that fact at trial?
No. Rule 36(a)(6) says a party must not object solely on the ground that the request presents a genuine issue for trial.
How detailed does a denial have to be?
It has to address the substance of the matter asked. A party can't claim lack of knowledge unless it states it made a reasonable inquiry and still lacks enough information to admit or deny, and if only part of a request is true, the answer must admit that part and qualify or deny the remainder.
Once I admit something under Rule 36, can I take it back later?
Only with the court's permission, on motion, and only if withdrawing or amending the admission would help present the case on its merits without prejudicing the party who relied on it. Outside of that, the admission is conclusively established for the case.
Source & verification. Rule text
are reproduced verbatim from the Idaho Rules of Civil Procedure, adopted by the
Supreme Court of Idaho. Last verified July 14, 2026. ·
Official source
Also known as:requests for admissionRFArequest to admitadmitting facts in a lawsuitgenuineness of documents request