How to Renew Your Trademark
Written by Law on Call Staff | Reviewed by Andrew Olmsted, Esq.|Last Updated September 15, 2026
Trademarks can last forever with proper maintenance: filing with the USPTO, proving continued use, and meeting renewal deadlines.
Here’s everything you need to know about renewal, why it’s required, and how to file.
Main Takeaways
- It’s important to keep track of your trademark’s renewal deadlines so you can maintain your mark’s protection.
- Make sure you can provide proof that you still use the trademark.
- File the correct forms with the USPTO, pay all fees, and respond quickly to any follow-up requests.
What Is Trademark Renewal?
Trademark renewal is how you keep your trademark registration active with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
Registration and renewal do not guarantee that trademark infringement will never occur, but an active registration can provide important legal benefits when enforcing your rights.
If you neglect to renew your trademark, your registration and the benefits therein will eventually lapse.
Why Do Trademarks Need to Be Renewed?
The reason for trademark renewal is pretty simple. Trademarks need to be in use to maintain protection. If a trademark is no longer in use, its registration will eventually lose validity. Periodic renewals help keep the trademark system from becoming cluttered with out-of-use names, logos, and slogans that other businesses can’t claim.
As long as you’re still using your trademark and file the required paperwork on time, you can keep your federal registration and its legal protections in place indefinitely. sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat.
Do I Need an Attorney to Renew For Me?
No. You don’t have to hire an attorney to renew your trademark. The USPTO allows trademark owners to file the required maintenance documents themselves. (If you’re located outside the U.S., you do need an attorney to file for you.)
That said, renewal filings can get complicated, especially if your business or how you use the trademark has changed. If you’re unsure about what needs to be filed or whether your trademark still qualifies for protection, working with a trademark attorney can help you avoid mistakes.
Still have questions about trademarks? We can help.
When Do You Need to Renew a Trademark?
Trademark owners need to pay particular attention to two important filing periods.
Between the Fifth and Sixth Year
The first maintenance filing is due between the fifth and sixth anniversaries of your registration. You generally must file a Section 8 Declaration of Use, confirming continued use of the mark and providing a specimen and required fee for each class.
If you’re not using the mark, excusable non-use may apply in limited circumstances. Failing to file can result in cancellation of the registration.
Between the Ninth and Tenth Year
Between the ninth and tenth anniversaries, you generally file a combined Section 8 Declaration of Use and Section 9 Renewal Application. This same filing is then required every 10 years.
What happens if I miss the renewal deadline?
The USPTO may cancel the registration or allow it to expire. A 6-month grace period is generally available for certain filings, but additional fees apply. Once the grace period ends, reinstatement may not be available, and you may need to file a new trademark application if you still want registration.
How Much Does Trademark Renewal Cost?
The USPTO fee for renewal filings depends on the specific renewal in question, as well as how many trademark classes you’re registered in. It breaks down like this:
- Every 10 years after that: $650 per class
- Years 5 to 6: $325 per class
- Years 9 to 10: $650 per class
Steps to Renew Your Trademark
Getting your trademark registered is a huge win, but you aren’t finished yet. To keep your legal protection, you have to prove to the USPTO that you are still using your mark. If you miss your deadlines, your trademark can expire or be canceled.
Here’s how to handle your renewal filings.
Step 1: Keep Using Your Trademark
The most important rule is pretty simple. Keep using your trademark in commerce. If you stop using it alongside your products or services, you might not have the proof you need to maintain registration.
Step 2: Pay Attention to Deadlines
You don’t renew your trademark every year. These are the deadlines to watch out for:
- Year 5 to 6: File a Declaration of Use (Section 8). This is just a formal way of saying, “Yes, I’m still using this trademark.”
- Year 9 to 10: This is a big one. You file a combined Declaration of Use anda Renewal Application (Sections 8 and 9).
- Every 10 Years Thereafter: You repeat the combined filing every decade (Year 19-20, 29-30, and on and on until the world ends or you stop using your trademark).
Step 3: Gather Proof of Use
When you file your paperwork, the USPTO doesn’t just take your word for it. You need to provide a specimen. This is a real-world example of your trademark in action.
Depending on what you sell, this could be:
- A photo of your logo on a product label.
- A screenshot of your website where customers can buy your service.
- A photo of your branded packaging.
It’s easy to mess this part up. Before filing, make sure you understand what types of specimens are sufficient for your specific offerings.
Step 4: File Your Paperwork
Most people file electronically through the USPTO website. To do this, you’ll need to:
- Sign a legal statement saying you are still using the mark.
- Upload your proof of use.
- Pay the required filing fee.
Step 5: Check the Status
After you hit submit, don’t just forget about it. It usually takes a few months for a USPTO examiner to review your filing, but processing times can vary, especially if a filing contains errors or raises questions.