Will you need to make a motion to compel if a party makes a complete non-response?

• A. Not likely
• B. Always
• C. Only if the court orders
• D. Never

Answer: (A)

When a party provides no response at all to a discovery request, you have a typical path to enforce the request, but you don’t automatically have to file a motion to compel in every situation. The key idea is that complete non-response is a serious sign that the other side must be addressed, yet the procedural steps you take can vary by jurisdiction and context. Often you start with standard steps like confirming service and confirming deadlines, and you may pursue informal resolution or a sanctions-based approach if warranted. Only if those steps don’t resolve the issue do you typically move toward a formal motion to compel to obtain a court order enforcing production.

So, while a motion to compel is a common remedy for nonresponse, it isn’t guaranteed or required in every case just because there is complete nonresponse. That’s why the best pick is that it’s not likely you will always need to file a motion to compel simply due to a complete nonresponse.