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 R. 4:25-1 governing amendment of a pretrial 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 be prejudicial to maintaining the 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 for any other purpose nor may it be used against that party in any other proceeding.
Rule 4:22-2.Effect of admission
Last amended September 1, 1994 · Current through June 18, 2026 · Last verified July 7, 2026
In one sentenceRule 4:22-2 makes a matter admitted under the requests-for-admission rule conclusively established for the pending action unless the court permits withdrawal or amendment, and bars using the admission against the party in any other proceeding.
Full Text of Rule 4:22-2
Amendment History
New Jersey publishes each rule’s amendment record in a “History” note beneath the rule. It is reproduced verbatim below; the “R.R.” citations refer to the former Revised Rules numbering the current rules replaced.
Source-R.R. 4:26-2. Former rule deleted and new R. 4:22-2 adopted July 14, 1972 to be effective September 5, 1972; amended July 13, 1994 to be effective September 1, 1994.
Plain-English Summary
An admission carries weight. Under this rule, any matter admitted — whether by an express answer or by failing to respond — is conclusively established, so a party cannot later contest it at trial. The court may permit withdrawal or amendment of an admission when doing so serves the merits and the party who obtained it cannot show prejudice.
The admission is also confined to the case. It is made for the purpose of the pending action only, is not an admission for any other purpose, and may not be used against the party in any other proceeding.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a request-for-admission answer binding?
Yes. A matter admitted is conclusively established for the pending action unless the court permits withdrawal or amendment. It cannot be used against the party in any other proceeding.
Source & verification. The rule text and amendment history are reproduced verbatim from the
official New Jersey Rules of Court (N.J. Ct. R. 4:22-2). Prescribed by the Supreme Court of New Jersey (N.J. Const. art. VI, § 2, ¶ 3). The plain-English summary is original and written by us. Last verified July 7, 2026. ·
Official source
Also known as: effect of admissionconclusively establishedwithdrawal of admission