A Request for Admission (RFA) is a civil discovery tool used to narrow a lawsuit by asking the opposing party to formally admit or deny specific facts or the authenticity of documents.

Instead of asking broad questions, an RFA focuses on precise issues, such as whether an email was received, whether an inspection occurred, whether a document is genuine, or whether a particular event happened on a certain date.

Why are RFAs important? Because admitted facts generally do not need to be proven again at trial. That can save time, reduce unnecessary disputes, and help identify what the parties are actually fighting about.

RFAs are also deadline-sensitive. In North Carolina civil cases, Rule 36 generally gives the responding party 30 days after service to answer or object, unless the court orders otherwise. Failure to timely respond can result in the matter being deemed admitted, subject to the court’s authority to allow withdrawal or amendment.

A good Request for Admission is:

specific, factual, clear, and limited to one proposition at a time.

In simple terms:

Complaint: “This is what I allege.”
Answer: “This is what I dispute.”
Request for Admission: “Now tell me exactly which facts you are actually contesting.”

That is why RFAs can be one of the most effective tools for turning a broad civil dispute into a focused evidentiary case.

Educational information only; not legal advice.