Missing one of these can cost real money or seriously weaken a case. A request for admission is a written tool used in a lawsuit to make the other side admit or deny specific facts, the genuineness of documents, or the application of law to certain facts. If a party admits a statement, that point usually does not have to be proved later. If the party fails to answer on time, the court may treat the statements as admitted.

These requests matter because they can narrow the fight and lock in facts before trial. In an injury case, one side might ask the other to admit ownership of a vehicle, the date of a crash, the authenticity of medical records, or that a traffic light was red. That can save time, reduce discovery costs, and make summary judgment more likely on certain issues. But careless admissions can also box someone into a bad position.

In North Carolina, requests for admissions are governed by Rule 36 of the North Carolina Rules of Civil Procedure. A party generally has 30 days to respond unless the court allows a different time. Admissions under Rule 36 are binding in that case unless the court permits withdrawal or amendment. For someone already dealing with injuries, treatment, and lost income, missing that deadline can quietly do major damage.