Effective July 1, 1974 · Last verified June 26, 2026
In one sentenceRule 36 lets a party ask another to admit the truth of specified facts or the genuineness of documents; a matter is admitted, and conclusively established, unless answered or objected to within the time allowed.
(a)Request for Admission. A party may serve upon any other party a written request for admission, for purposes of the pending action, only, of the truth of any matters within the scope of Rule 26(b) 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 and complaint upon that party. 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 either (1) a written statement signed by the party under the penalties of perjury specifically (i) denying the matter or (ii) setting forth in detail why the answering party cannot truthfully admit or deny the matter; or (2) a written objection addressed to the matter, signed by the party or 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 and complaint upon him. If objection is made, the reasons therefor shall be stated. 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(c), deny the matter or set forth reasons why he cannot admit or deny it. Each admission, denial, objection, or statement shall be preceded by the request to which it responds. 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 pre-trial conference or at a designated time prior to trial. The provisions of Rule 37(a)(4) apply to the award of expenses incurred in relation to the motion.
(b)Effect of Admission. Any matter admitted under this rule is conclusively established unless the court on motion permits withdrawal or amendment of the admission. Subject to the provisions of Rule 16 governing amendment of a pre-trial order, the court may permit withdrawal or amendment when the presentation of the merits of the action will be subserved thereby and the party who obtained the admission fails to satisfy the court that withdrawal or amendment will prejudice him in maintaining his action or defense on the merits. Any admission made by a party under this rule is for the purpose of the pending action only and is not an admission by him for any other purpose nor may it be used against him in any other proceeding.
End
Rule History
Effective July 1, 1974.
Reporter’s Notes
(1973)
Rule 36, tracking amended Federal Rule 36, governs Requests for Admission, a procedure long familiar to Massachusetts practitioners as "Notices to Admit", G.L. c. 231, s. 69. Although the matters subject to such request under Rule 36 are somewhat broader than those under the statute, Rule 36 should cause no difficulty; the expanded response period (30 days, as opposed to 10 under G.L. c. 231, s. 69) should in fact permit more flexible use of this discovery device.
Plain-English Summary
Requests for admission narrow a case by settling what is not disputed. A party serves written requests asking another to admit facts, the application of law to fact, or the genuineness of documents, within the scope of Rule 26.
Timing carries real consequences. Each matter is admitted unless, within 30 days (a defendant gets at least 45 days after service of the summons and complaint), the answering party serves a sworn denial, a detailed explanation of why it cannot admit or deny, or an objection. A denial must address the substance of the request, and a party cannot refuse to answer merely because the matter will be contested at trial.
A matter admitted is conclusively established for the case, unless the court permits withdrawal or amendment. The requesting party may move to test the sufficiency of the answers, and an admission is binding only in the pending action, not in other proceedings.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens if I don't respond to requests for admission?
Each matter is admitted automatically. Unless you serve a sworn denial, a detailed explanation, or an objection within the time allowed—generally 30 days, and at least 45 days for a defendant after service—the matter is treated as admitted and conclusively established.
Can an admission be taken back?
Only with the court's permission. A matter admitted is conclusively established unless the court allows withdrawal or amendment, which it may do when it serves the merits and does not prejudice the requesting party.
Can I refuse to admit something just because it is disputed?
No. A party may not object solely because the matter presents a genuine issue for trial; it must deny the matter or explain in detail why it cannot admit or deny.
Source & verification. Rule text, Rule History, and Reporter’s Notes reproduced
verbatim from the Massachusetts Rules of Civil Procedure as published by the Massachusetts Trial Court Law Libraries.
Promulgated by the Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts. Last verified June 26, 2026. ·
Official text
Also known as:requests for admissionRFAadmissionsdeemed admitted