YOU HAVE ONE YEAR TO FILE AFTER DISCLOSURE. THE CLOCK MAY ALREADY BE TICKING.
First-to-file wins. Weak claims lose. Get attorney guidance on your patent strategy before you run out of time.
Patent attorneys charge $5,000–$15,000 per application. Start with affordable strategic guidance first.
The U.S. patent system operates on a first-to-file basis. Once you publicly disclose your invention, you have one year to file a patent application.
Miss that window and you may permanently lose your right to patent protection.
A legal plan gives you access to an IP attorney who can advise on your patent strategy, explain the process, and help you take the right steps before it's too late.
Filing a patent is one of the most technically and legally complex things a business can do. The claims you include in a patent application determine what you actually protect — and what competitors can work around. Poorly drafted claims, missed prior art, or the wrong application type can leave you with a patent that provides far less protection than you intended.
A legal plan connects you with a provider attorney who can advise on your patent strategy, explain the different application types, help you understand the process, and guide you in taking the right steps before your window to file closes.
Legal Plan Benefits
Get IP attorney guidance on your patent strategy and filing process without paying full patent law firm rates
Understand whether your invention is patentable, what type of patent applies, and how to build a filing strategy that protects the most important aspects of your invention.
Get guidance on evaluating existing patents and publications that may affect the patentability of your invention — before you invest in a full application.
Understand the differences between provisional and non-provisional patent applications — and how a provisional application can secure your filing date while you refine your invention.
Understand the one-year statutory bar and other critical deadlines that affect your right to file — and make sure you don't lose patent rights through inadvertent public disclosure.
Get guidance on international patent protection options — PCT applications, foreign filing deadlines, and how to protect your invention in key markets outside the United States.
Replace unpredictable attorney fees with a flat monthly plan — so legal costs never catch your business off guard.
From initial strategy through provisional applications and the utility patent process, a provider attorney guides you through every aspect of patent protection.
Get legal guidance on whether your invention is likely patentable, what aspects are most protectable, and how to structure your claims strategy for maximum protection.
Understand how a provisional application establishes your filing date, what it must include to be effective, and how it buys you twelve months to develop and refine your invention.
Get attorney guidance on the components of a utility patent application — specification, claims, drawings, and abstract — and what makes patent claims strong versus easy for competitors to design around.
Understand when a design patent may be more appropriate than a utility patent — and when keeping your invention as a trade secret may provide better long-term protection than filing at all.
From initial invention through prosecution and grant, having legal guidance at the right moments protects your investment in the patent process.
The decisions you make before filing — what to claim, what strategy to pursue, and when to file — determine the value of the patent you ultimately receive.
The provisional application period is when most inventors refine their claims strategy. Having legal guidance during this phase ensures your eventual utility application is built on a strong foundation.
Patent prosecution can take years. Having attorney guidance at key decision points during the examination process protects the investment you've made in the application.
Strategize
Protect
File
Who This Is For
Designed for inventors, startups, and businesses who need patent strategy guidance without paying standard patent attorney rates for every question
For individual inventors who have developed a new product, process, or design and need guidance on whether and how to protect it with a patent.
For early-stage companies whose technology or design is a core competitive asset that needs patent protection to attract investors and defend market position.
For small business owners who have developed proprietary methods, products, or designs and want to understand their patent options before a competitor files first.
For software developers and app creators who want to understand what aspects of their innovation may be patentable and how to approach software patent strategy.
For manufacturers and engineers who have developed new processes, machinery, or products and want legal guidance on protecting their innovations through patents.
Best suited for those who need real legal help without paying high hourly attorney rates for every question or issue that arises.
Step 1
Tell us about your legal needs so we can match you with the right plan and provider attorney.
Step 2
A legal plan representative will reach out and help you get access to a provider attorney at an affordable monthly rate.
Step 3
Get connected with an experienced attorney for guidance, document review, and ongoing support — by phone or online.
Affordable legal protection for business owners who need real attorney access without traditional law firm costs.
Contact NowPatent rights are time-sensitive — don't wait until it's too late
First to File Wins.
But Only If You File Right.
The patent process is complex, expensive, and full of deadlines that don't forgive mistakes. Getting attorney guidance early — before you disclose your invention publicly, before you file, and before your provisional expires — is the most effective investment you can make in protecting what you've invented.
A legal plan gives you a provider attorney on call — at a flat monthly rate that makes legal protection practical for every business.
Check EligibilityPatent strategy guidance, provisional application advice, and related IP legal matters are covered under the plan. For full patent prosecution representation, receive discounted legal services at rates far below standard patent attorney billing.
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Contact NowTestimonials
Real inventors. Real patent filing results.
I was about to present my invention at a trade show without realizing that would start my one-year statutory bar. My provider attorney explained the risk, guided me through filing a provisional application the week before the show, and explained exactly what I needed to include. When a competitor saw my product and tried to file something similar, my filing date was already established.
I had a patent issued and thought I was fully protected, but a competitor launched a similar product and claimed they were designing around my claims. My provider attorney reviewed my patent, explained exactly what my claims covered and where the gaps were, and helped me understand whether I had an infringement case. The clarity was worth far more than the consultation cost.
I wasn't sure whether to file a provisional or go straight to a utility application. My provider attorney walked me through the trade-offs, the cost implications, and what I needed to include in a provisional to actually support my future claims. I filed the provisional with confidence and used the twelve months to strengthen my claims strategy.
I was about to spend $12,000 on a utility patent application when my provider attorney helped me assess the prior art landscape. She found three prior patents that would have made my claims very narrow — and likely not worth the investment. I redirected my strategy to trade secret protection instead. That conversation saved me from a costly mistake.