(1) 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 26.02 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. The request may, without leave of court, be served upon the plaintiff after commencement of the action and upon any other party with or after service of the summons upon that party.
Rule 36.01.Request for admission.
Current through June 18, 2026 · Last verified July 9, 2026
In one sentenceRule 36.01 lets a party serve a written request that another party admit facts, opinions, or the genuineness of documents within the scope of Rule 26.02; the matter is deemed admitted unless a written answer or objection is served within 30 days (45 days for a defendant after service of summons), and either side may move the court to test the sufficiency of an answer.
Full Text of Rule 36.01
(2) Each matter of which an admission is requested shall be separately set forth. The matter is admitted unless, within 30 days after service of the request, or within such shorter or longer time as the court may 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 his attorney, but, unless the court shortens the time, a defendant shall not be required to serve answers or objections before the expiration of 45 days after service of the summons upon him. 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 answer or deny only a part of the matter of which an admission is requested, he 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 he states that he has made reasonable inquiry and that the information known or readily obtainable by him is insufficient to enable him 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; he may, subject to the provisions of Rule 37.03, deny the matter or set forth reasons why he cannot admit or deny it.
(3) The party who has requested the admissions 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 37.01 (4) apply to the award of expenses incurred in relation to the motion.
Amendment History
(Amended effective October 1, 1971.)
Plain-English Summary
A request for admission asks another party to concede, for that lawsuit only, that certain facts are true, that an opinion of fact is correct, that the law applies to given facts in a certain way, or that a document is genuine. The requesting party must serve copies of any documents referenced, unless they have already been made available. Like a request for production, this request can go out to the plaintiff any time after the action starts, and to any other party with or after that party is served with the summons, without needing court permission.
Each matter to be admitted has to be listed separately. The responding party then has 30 days to serve a written answer or objection, or 45 days for a defendant counted from service of the summons, unless the court sets a different time. Silence within that window means the matter is treated as admitted. An answer has to directly address the request: either deny it outright, or explain in detail why the party can't truthfully admit or deny it. A partial denial has to specify what part is true and qualify or deny the rest. A party can't dodge a request by claiming lack of knowledge unless that party has made reasonable inquiry and still lacks enough information to answer. And a party can't object to a request just because it thinks the matter presents a genuine issue for trial.
If the requesting party thinks an answer or objection falls short, that party can move the court to rule on its sufficiency. The court can order a proper answer served, treat the matter as admitted, or push final resolution to a pretrial conference. Expenses tied to that motion follow the same rules as expenses on a motion under Rule 37.01(4).
Frequently Asked Questions
How long do I have to respond to requests for admission in Kentucky?
A party generally has 30 days after service of the request to serve a written answer or objection. A defendant gets 45 days, counted from service of the summons, unless the court sets a shorter or longer time.
What happens if I don't respond to a request for admission?
The matter is automatically admitted if you fail to serve a written answer or objection within the applicable time, 30 days generally or 45 days for a defendant after service of the summons.
Can I object to a request for admission because I think it's a disputed issue for trial?
No. Rule 36.01 says a party may not object to a request solely because the matter presents a genuine issue for trial; instead, the party may deny it or explain why it cannot be admitted or denied.
Source & verification. The rule text is reproduced verbatim from the
official Kentucky Rules of Civil Procedure (Ky. R. Civ. P. 36.01). Prescribed by the Supreme Court of Kentucky (Ky. Const. § 116). The plain-English summary is original and written by us. Last verified July 9, 2026. ·
Official source
Also known as: request for admission KentuckyRFA Kentucky civil procedureCR 36.0130 day deadline requests for admissiondeemed admitted no responseadmitting genuineness of documents lawsuit