Admissions & Objections Reference

A Louisiana quick reference for tracking and organizing written discovery—especially Requests for Admission (RFAs). It is a procedural reference, not legal advice or a substitute for court rules and local practice.

Requests for Admission: purpose and scope

An RFA asks another party to admit or deny a separately stated matter for the pending case. In Louisiana, requests may address relevant facts and the genuineness of identified documents. They help narrow what is actually disputed; they are not a substitute for gathering new information.

• Facts: dates, amounts, identity, or whether an event occurred.
• Document genuineness: whether a described exhibit is a true copy—not necessarily whether every statement in it is true.
• Mixed fact and law: a request tied to a specific factual situation may require special care; do not treat this reference as advice on whether to object.

Deadline and response mechanics

Article 1467 generally provides a 30-day period after service to serve a written answer or objection, unless the court allows a different period. Put the service date, response due date, and any court-ordered change in the Discovery Tracker immediately.

• Restate each request, then place the corresponding answer or reason for objection directly after it.
• State a specific admission, denial, qualification, or reason you cannot truthfully admit or deny.
• A denial should fairly meet the substance of the request. A lack-of-information response requires a reasonable inquiry into information known or readily obtainable to you.
• If only part is true, identify that part and qualify or deny the remainder.

Untimely or insufficient responses can carry serious consequences. The statute says an admitted matter is conclusively established unless the court permits withdrawal or amendment. In 2026, the Legislature also enacted a Rule 10.1 conference-certificate requirement before a court orders an RFA deemed admitted (except in a default judgment). Verify the operative version and effective date with the court or a qualified Louisiana lawyer.

Common issue flags to organize for review

These are common labels for an RFA or other written-discovery concern. A label is not an automatic objection and does not tell you what response is legally appropriate.

• Vague, ambiguous, or undefined terms
• Compound request—more than one discrete fact in one request
• Overbroad, unduly burdensome, or disproportionate scope
• Calls for a legal conclusion or assumes disputed facts
• Privilege or work-product concern
• Relevance, timing, duplication, possession/control, or confidentiality concern

When part of a request can be answered, record the answerable portion as well as the issue flag. A bare objection can be treated as incomplete.

Related written discovery

Many of the same issue flags arise in interrogatories and requests for production. Keep each request set, service proof, response deadline, response status, and follow-up action together in the Discovery Tracker. For a document request, also note whether the material is in your possession, custody, or control; for an interrogatory, note whether the request is asking for facts, a contention, or information that needs a reasonable inquiry.

A simple review checklist

1. Save the complete request set and proof of service.
2. Enter the due date and a reminder earlier than the deadline.
3. Review each numbered request separately; do not answer from memory alone when records are readily available.
4. Keep a working copy that pairs each request with its response and supporting records.
5. Check local rules and the court's scheduling order before service or filing.

HERESAI is an organizational and educational tool. It is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice. For advice about your specific situation, consult a licensed Louisiana attorney or legal aid organization.