Section 8 Declaration of Use
Filed between the 5th and 6th anniversaries of registration to confirm continuous use in commerce — with specimen and USPTO fee.
Section 8 & Maintenance Renewals
Keep Your Trademark Alive. Enforceable. Forever.
Registration is a milestone — not the finish line. Section 8 declarations, combined Section 8 & 9 renewals, and Section 15 incontestability filings keep your mark active. Miss a deadline and your registration is cancelled.
5–6 Year Section 8 Window
10-Year Combined Renewal
Section 15 Incontestability
What We Maintain
Every milestone. On time. Every time.
Your registration is only as strong as your most recent maintenance filing. We handle every USPTO requirement so your mark stays active, enforceable, and on the register — for the life of your brand.
Six-Month Grace Period
Missed the window? File within six months after the sixth anniversary for an additional $100 per class.
Combined Section 8 & 9 Renewal
Filed every ten years to maintain registration. We bundle both filings, the specimen, and the fees in one submission.
Section 15 Incontestability
After five years of continuous use on the Principal Register, lock in incontestable status — the strongest trademark protection available.
Specimen Audit & Substitution
We review your current use, capture compliant specimens, and resolve audit refusals before they jeopardize the filing.
Deadline Monitoring
Calendar all your maintenance deadlines for life — Section 8, 9, and 15 — so a missed date never costs you the mark.
How It Works
A streamlined path through every USPTO milestone.
From audit to filing receipt — usually completed within 5–10 business days of your order.
01Registration Audit
We pull your USPTO record, confirm your registration date, and identify upcoming Section 8, 9, and 15 deadlines.
02Specimen Collection
You send us current product photos, packaging, or website use. We confirm the specimen meets USPTO standards for every class.
03Declaration Drafted
Attorney drafts your Section 8 (and 9 or 15 if due) declaration with the proper verifications and statements of use.
04Electronic Filing
We submit to the USPTO with all required fees and specimens — Principal Register safeguards intact.
05Confirmation & Calendar
You receive the USPTO acknowledgment. We calendar your next maintenance deadline so the cycle never breaks.
Maintenance Timeline
Mark these dates. Or let us mark them for you.
| Milestone | Event | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Year 5–6 | Section 8 Declaration of Use due | Required to keep registration alive |
| Year 5+ | Section 15 Incontestability eligible | After 5 years continuous use on Principal Register |
| Year 6 + 6 mo grace | Section 8 grace period closes | +$100 per class late fee |
| Year 9–10 | Combined Section 8 & 9 due | Then every 10 years thereafter |
| Year 19–20 | Next combined Section 8 & 9 due | Cycle repeats every decade |
Renewal Packages
Pick the package that matches your milestone.
Every package includes attorney review, specimen verification, and electronic filing. USPTO Section 8 fees are $325 per class (as of Jan 10, 2026) and are billed separately at cost.
Basic
Section 8 declaration only
- Section 8 Declaration of Use
- Specimen review (single class)
- Attorney verification
- Electronic filing with USPTO
- Filing receipt delivered
Most CommonStandard
Combined Section 8 & 9 renewal
- Section 8 Declaration of Use
- Section 9 Application for Renewal
- Specimen review (per class)
- Attorney verification & filing
- Next deadline calendared
Premium
Includes Section 15 incontestability
- Everything in Standard
- Section 15 Declaration of Incontestability
- Five-year continuous use audit
- Principal Register confirmation
- Lifetime deadline monitoring
Why Incontestability Matters
The strongest protection a U.S. trademark can have.
Bars Most Challenges
Eliminates most grounds for cancellation — including descriptiveness and prior use claims.
Conclusive Evidence
Your registration becomes conclusive evidence of validity and exclusive nationwide rights.
One-Year Window
File within one year after any five-year period of continuous use — typically alongside Section 8.
Miss a deadline. Lose the registration.
The USPTO does not send second chances. A cancelled registration means refiling from scratch — losing your priority date and all associated rights.
FAQ
Maintenance & renewals, answered.
Schedule a Renewal Review
Your trademark. Forever protected.
Send us your registration number — we'll confirm your upcoming Section 8, 9, and 15 deadlines, recommend the right package, and put your maintenance on autopilot.
hello@trademarkraft.com
(619) 555-0140
Replies within 1 business day