Your mark is approved. Now prove you’re using it.
A Notice of Allowance means the USPTO said yes, pending proof of use. You have 6 months. I review your specimens, prepare the declaration, and file it before your registration slips away.
The Statement of Use is due within 6 months of your Notice of Allowance. Not ready to show use? Up to five 6-month extensions are available at $125 per class each, up to three years total. Miss the deadline and the application is abandoned.
What counts as a specimen?
For goods
The mark on the product, its packaging, tags, or a real point-of-sale product page — not a mockup.
For services
The mark in advertising or marketing that shows the services being offered: your site, flyers, booking pages.
What gets refused
Digitally altered images, printer’s proofs, ornamental-only use, and specimens that don’t match the mark as filed.
What filing costs.
Attorney preparation & filing — per application
Specimen review against current USPTO standards, preparation of your Statement of Use declaration, and filing before your deadline.
USPTO filing fee — per class
Paid to the government at filing, not to us. If you need more time instead, extension requests are $125 per class per 6-month extension, paid to the USPTO.
Filing an extension instead, or unsure which you need? Send me your Notice of Allowance and I’ll tell you.
File your Statement of Use.
I’ll review your specimens, prepare your declaration, and file it before your deadline.
Secure, encrypted form — your details are protectedFrom your Notice of Allowance to a filed Statement of Use.
Send Your NOA
Your Notice of Allowance and current specimens showing the mark in use.
Specimen Review
I check your specimens against USPTO standards and flag anything that would draw a refusal.
Preparation
I prepare your Statement of Use declaration and send it for your sign-off.
Filed
I file before your deadline, and your application moves to registration.
Statement of Use questions, answered.
01What is a Statement of Use?
A Statement of Use (SOU) is a sworn declaration filed with the USPTO proving that you are actively using your trademark in commerce for the goods or services listed in your application. It's the final step that turns an allowed intent-to-use application into a registration.
02When do I need to file an SOU?
You have 6 months from the date the USPTO issues your Notice of Allowance to file your Statement of Use. If you're not ready to show use, you can request up to five 6-month extensions at $125 per class each, giving you up to three years total. Miss the deadline and the grace period, and the application is abandoned; revival by petition costs $250 and must be filed within two months of abandonment.
03What qualifies as a specimen?
A specimen is real-world evidence showing how you use the trademark in commerce. For goods, that's the mark on the product, its packaging, tags, or a real point-of-sale product page — not a mockup. For services, it's the mark in advertising or marketing that shows the services being offered: your website, flyers, or booking pages.
04What happens if I miss the deadline?
If you fail to file a Statement of Use or an extension request by the deadline, your trademark application is abandoned and you lose your filing-date priority. You can petition to revive within two months of the abandonment date for a $250 fee, with a statement that the delay was unintentional. After that window, you start over with a new application.
05Are USPTO fees included?
No. The $150-per-class filing fee is a government charge on top of my $1,200 fee. Extension requests carry their own USPTO fee of $125 per class per 6-month extension. I'll tell you exactly which fees apply to your situation before you pay anything.