Rule 2.312.Request for Admission

Current through May 1, 2026 · Last verified July 6, 2026

In one sentenceRule 2.312 lets a party ask another party to admit specific facts or the genuineness of documents, treats an unanswered request as admitted after 28 days, and, through MCR 2.313(C), lets a party that proves a matter the other side refused to admit recover the expense of proving it.

Full Text of Rule 2.312

Text sizeJump to: (A) (B) (C) (D) (E) (F)

(A) Availability; Scope. Within the time for completion of discovery, a party may serve on another party a written request for the admission of the truth of a matter within the scope of MCR 2.302(B) stated in the request that relates to statements or opinions of fact or the application of law to fact, including the genuineness of documents described in the request. Copies of the documents must be served with the request unless they have been or are otherwise furnished or made available for inspection and copying. The request must clearly identify in the caption and before each request that it is a Request for Admission. Each matter of which an admission is requested must be stated separately.

(B) Answer; Objection.

(1) Each matter as to which a request is made is deemed admitted unless, within 28 days after service of the request, or within a shorter or longer time as the court may allow, the party to whom the request is directed serves on the party requesting the admission a written answer or objection addressed to the matter. Unless the court orders a shorter time a defendant may serve an answer or objection within 42 days after being served with the summons and complaint.

(2) The answer must specifically deny the matter or state in detail the reasons why the answering party cannot truthfully admit or deny it. A denial must fairly meet the substance of the request, and when good faith requires that a party qualify an answer or deny only part of the matter of which an admission is requested, the party must specify the parts that are admitted and denied.

(3) 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 he or she has made reasonable inquiry and that the information known or readily obtainable is insufficient to enable the party to admit or deny.

(4) If an objection is made, the reasons must be stated. 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 MCR 2.313(C), deny the matter or state reasons why he or she cannot admit or deny it.

(C) Motion Regarding Answer or Objection. The party who has requested the admission may move to determine the sufficiency of the answer or objection. The motion must state that the movant has in good faith conferred or attempted to confer with the party not making the disclosure in an effort to secure the disclosure without court action. 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 the rule, it may order either that the matter is admitted, or that an amended answer be served. The court may, in lieu of one of these orders, determine that final disposition of the request be made at a pretrial conference or at a designated time before trial. The provisions of MCR 2.313(A)(5) apply to the award of expenses incurred in relation to the motion.

(D) Effect of Admission.

(1) A matter admitted under this rule is conclusively established unless the court on motion permits withdrawal or amendment of an admission. For good cause the court may allow a party to amend or withdraw an admission. The court may condition amendment or withdrawal of the admission on terms that are just.

(2) An admission made by a party under this rule is for the purpose of the pending action only and is not an admission for another purpose, nor may it be used against the party in another proceeding.

(E) Public Records.

(1) A party intending to use as evidence

(a) a record that a public official is required by federal, state, or municipal authority to receive for filing or recording or is given custody of by law, or

(b) a memorial of a public official, may prepare a copy, synopsis, or abstract of the record, insofar as it is to be used, and serve it on the adverse party sufficiently in advance of trial to allow the adverse party a reasonable opportunity to determine its accuracy.

(2) The copy, synopsis, or abstract is then admissible in evidence as admitted facts in the action, if otherwise admissible, except insofar as its inaccuracy is pointed out by the adverse party in an affidavit filed and served within a reasonable time before trial.

(F) Filing With Court. Requests and responses under this rule must be filed with the court either before service or within a reasonable time thereafter.

End

Amendment History

Michigan tracks the orders that adopt and amend its Court Rules in a separate administrative record rather than printing a history note beneath each rule in the compiled rules text reproduced here. The text above is verified current through the source’s own May 1, 2026 update; for the full order-by-order history of this rule, see the Michigan Supreme Court’s rules and orders page.

Plain-English Summary

A request for admission is a shortcut for narrowing a case down to the facts the parties still contest. A party serves a written request asking another party to admit specific facts, opinions about facts, the application of law to fact, or the genuineness of a document, with each item stated separately and copies of any relevant documents attached. The party receiving the request has 28 days (42 for a defendant, from service of the summons and complaint) to serve a specific denial or a detailed explanation of why it can't admit or deny; anything not properly answered in time is deemed admitted. A party can't merely plead ignorance — it has to say it made reasonable inquiry and still couldn't find enough information to answer — and can't object just because the fact is hotly disputed and important to the case.

If the requesting party isn't satisfied with an answer or objection, it can move the court to decide whether the response is adequate, and the court can order a better answer, deem the matter admitted outright, or push the issue to a pretrial conference. Whatever gets admitted is locked in for that case only, unless the court later allows it to be withdrawn or amended for good cause; it doesn't count as an admission in any other proceeding. Guessing wrong carries a real financial consequence, though it comes from MCR 2.313(C) rather than this rule: if a party denies something the requesting party later proves true, the requesting party can recover the expense — including attorney fees — of proving it, unless the denial was reasonable under the circumstances.

Frequently Asked Questions

What happens if I don't respond to a request for admission?

Anything you don't properly answer within 28 days (42 for a defendant, from service of the summons and complaint) is deemed admitted.

Can I just say I don't know to avoid admitting or denying something?

Only if you state that you made a reasonable inquiry and the information available still isn't enough to let you admit or deny it. A bare claim of ignorance isn't good enough.

What happens if I deny something that turns out to be true?

The other side can move for you to pay the expense, including attorney fees, of proving what you denied, unless your denial had a reasonable basis or one of the rule's other exceptions applies.

Can an admission I make in this case be used against me in a different lawsuit?

No. An admission under this rule is for the pending action only; it isn't an admission for any other purpose and can't be used against you in another proceeding.

Source & verification. The rule text is reproduced verbatim from the official Michigan Court Rules (MCR 2.312). Prescribed by the Supreme Court of Michigan (Mich. Const. 1963, art. VI, § 5). The plain-English summary is original and written by us. Last verified July 6, 2026. · Official source

Also known as: request for admission Michigandeemed admitted 28 daysexpenses for improper denial MichiganRFA Michigan