At some point most IP practitioners need an official, USPTO-certified copy of a patent, trademark, or assignment — not a printout, but a document the USPTO has formally certified as a true copy of its records. Whether it's for a foreign filing, litigation, or recording a transaction, the requirements are specific and the timing matters. Here's how it works.
What Is a Certified Copy?
A certified copy is a copy of a USPTO record that the office certifies, under seal, as a true and accurate copy of what it holds on file. That certification is what gives the document legal weight abroad and in court — a plain copy or a download from the USPTO website doesn't carry the same authority. Common certified documents include issued patents, published and unpublished applications, file wrappers (the complete prosecution history), and recorded assignments.
When You Need One
- Foreign filings. A certified copy of a priority application is required to perfect a priority claim in most countries.
- Legalization and apostille. Before a document can be apostilled or legalized for use abroad, it often needs to be a certified copy first.
- Litigation. Courts typically require certified copies of patents and file histories as evidence.
- Assignment and chain-of-title. Certified copies of recorded assignments establish ownership.
How to Order One
Certified copies are issued by the USPTO's Certification Branch. You can request them directly from the USPTO, or have us handle the request and any downstream legalization for you. Either way, the key is to order early — processing times at the Certification Branch have been significantly extended, and a certified copy that's stuck in the queue can put a foreign filing deadline at risk.
Plan Around the Timeline and Cost
As of mid-2026, the USPTO Certification Branch is processing certified copy requests in roughly 90 days — well beyond its historical target. The good news is that the office has added staff and we've been told to expect processing times to decrease over the coming months; we covered the details in our recent update on the Certification Branch. Until they come down, build the current timeline into your deadline planning and don't wait until the last minute. To get an idea of the cost and processing time for your specific request, enter your details in our free estimate tool.
Color Scans and Worldwide Delivery
Obtaining the certified copy is only part of what we do. We can also provide you with high-resolution color scans of the certified documents for your records, and forward the physical originals to wherever they're needed anywhere in the world — your office, a foreign associate, or directly to the receiving authority. You get a digital copy in hand right away while the originals go straight where they need to be.
Let Us Handle the Request
We obtain certified copies from the USPTO every day and can manage the entire process — including any apostille or consular legalization the document needs afterward. If you need a certified copy of a patent, trademark, or assignment, see our certified copy services or reach out to our team.
The Patent Place specializes in obtaining certified documents from the USPTO and legalizing intellectual property documents for use in countries around the world.