What Is a File History?
A file history — the file wrapper — is the complete prosecution record held by the USPTO: every office action, applicant response, amendment, declaration, and paper filed during examination. A certified file history is the USPTO's official, sealed reproduction of that entire record. It's the authoritative version relied on in litigation, foreign proceedings, and ownership diligence. We obtain file histories for patents and applications and for trademark applications and registrations.
Fee Sheet
| Service | Fee |
|---|
| Certified Copy Fees |
| 1 (first document) | $100 |
| 2 – 4 save $70 each | $30 each |
| 5 – 10 save $75 each | $25 each |
| 11 – 15 save $80 each | $20 each |
| Add-Ons |
| Expedited handling | $250 |
| Document scanning per page | $1.00 |
| Combo Services |
| Certified Copy + Apostille 1 doc, 1 step | $250 |
| Certified Copy + Consular Legalization 1 doc, 1 step | $350 |
Maximum 15 documents per order. Fees shown are our service fees only and do not include USPTO/SoS government fees or shipping. Additional documents or legalization steps are priced at standard legalization rates.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Certified Copies of File Histories
A file history (file wrapper) is the complete prosecution record of a patent, application, or trademark at the USPTO — every office action, response, amendment, and paper. A certified copy is the USPTO's official, sealed reproduction of that entire record, the authoritative version used in litigation and foreign proceedings.
Yes. We obtain certified copies of file histories for patents and applications as well as trademark applications and registrations. Just give us the number and we retrieve the complete certified record.
The USPTO's official goal is 7 business days, but the USPTO Certification Branch is currently processing most requests in about 2–3 weeks. At-cost expedited processing (typically within about a week) is available for urgent foreign filings or court dates.
Yes. We can apostille or consularly legalize the certified file history for use abroad, handling the certified copy and the legalization together in one order.
