Current through February 2024 · Last verified July 8, 2026
In one sentenceRule 36 lets a party serve written requests asking another party to admit facts, the application of law to fact, or the genuineness of documents, and any matter not answered or objected to within the deadline is automatically deemed admitted.
(a)Request for Admission. 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(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, complaint, Language Assistance Notice, and all other required documents upon that party.
Each matter of which an admission is requested shall be separately set forth. The matter is admitted unless, within thirty (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 the party's attorney, but, unless the court shortens the time, a defendant shall not be required to serve answers or objections before the expiration of forty-five (45) days after service of the summons, complaint, Language Assistance Notice, and all other required documents upon the defendant. 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 an answer or deny only a part of the matter of which an admission is requested, the party 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 the party states that the party has made reasonable inquiry and that the information known or readily obtainable by the party is insufficient to enable the party 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; the party may, subject to the provisions of Rule 37(c), deny the matter or set forth reasons why the party cannot admit or deny it.
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 promoted thereby and the party who obtained the admission fails to satisfy the court that withdrawal or amendment will prejudice the party in maintaining the party's 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 the party for any other purpose nor may it be used against the party in any other proceeding except in a subsequent action between the same parties involving the same claim.
Amendment History
Rhode Island does not publish a per-rule amendment history inside the compiled rules text reproduced here. The text above is verified current through the source’s own February 2024 printing; for the underlying adopting orders and any later amendments, see the Rhode Island Judiciary’s compiled rules page.
Plain-English Summary
Rule 36 requests for admission ask another party to admit or deny specific matters — facts, opinions, how the law applies to the facts, or whether a document is genuine — within the scope of discovery. Copies of any documents at issue go along with the request unless they have already been made available. Like other discovery requests, this one can reach the plaintiff as soon as suit is filed and any other party once served.
Each matter has to be listed separately, and it is deemed admitted unless the responding party serves a written answer or objection within thirty days, though a defendant gets forty-five days from being served with the summons and complaint. An answer must specifically deny the matter or explain in detail why the party can neither admit nor deny it; a partial denial has to say what part is true and qualify or deny the rest. A party cannot dodge by claiming ignorance unless it has made reasonable inquiry and still lacks enough information to answer, and cannot object merely because the matter presents a genuine issue for trial.
If the requesting party thinks the answers or objections are inadequate, it can move the court to rule on their sufficiency. The court will order a proper answer served, or, if an objection is not justified, deem the matter admitted or require an amended answer — and it can instead push the issue to a pretrial conference. Expenses on that motion follow the same rules as a motion to compel under Rule 37(a).
An admission made under Rule 36 is conclusively established unless the court allows it to be withdrawn or amended, which it will do only when that serves the merits and does not prejudice the party who obtained the admission. Importantly, an admission only binds the party in that case — it cannot be used against the party in a different proceeding, except a later suit between the same parties over the same claim.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens if I miss the deadline to respond to a request for admission?
The matter is automatically deemed admitted. A party has thirty days to answer or object, though a defendant gets forty-five days from being served with the summons and complaint, and missing that window without a court extension locks the admission in.
Can I take back an admission after it's made?
Only with the court’s permission. The court will allow withdrawal or amendment when it would help resolve the case on the merits and the party who relied on the admission would not be unfairly prejudiced.
Can an admission from this case be used against me in a different lawsuit?
No. An admission made under Rule 36 is limited to the pending action and cannot be used against the admitting party in any other proceeding, except a later case between the same parties on the same claim.
Source & verification. The rule text is reproduced verbatim from the
official Rhode Island Superior Court Rules of Civil Procedure (R.I. Super. Ct. R. Civ. P. 36). Prescribed by the Supreme Court of Rhode Island (R.I. Gen. Laws § 8-6-2). The plain-English summary is original and written by us. Last verified July 8, 2026. ·
Official source
Also known as:request for admissionRFArequests to admitdeemed admittedadmission of facts discoverygenuineness of documents