The Pro Se Assistance Center provides outreach and education to applicants (also known as "pro se" applicants) who file patent applications without the assistance of a registered patent attorney or agent.
Through increased assistance and resources for independent inventor and small-business communities, the Pro Se Assistance Center aims to increase the quality of pro se applications and assist pro se applicants with making informed decisions regarding their patent applications.
One-on-one assistance is available via video conference or telephone. Pro se personnel cannot give legal advice but can meet with applicants to answer patent-related questions and assist in filing their applications.
For more information about the Pro Se Assistance Center, visit the Filing a patent application on your own page.
These pages answer the questions we’re asked most often:
- How to apply for a patent
- Provisional patent application
- Customer Number
- Patent Center account
- Formality Notices (e.g. Missing Parts)
- Small and micro entity
- Respond to Office Actions
- Revive an abandoned application
Contact us
Assistance is available Monday through Friday (except federal holidays) from 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. ET. You can schedule a one-on-one appointment by clicking the button below.
Additional Information
Find more answers to common patent questions in the Patent FAQs.
For a complete directory of USPTO Patents contact centers and how to reach them, visit Patents Contact Centers page.