Introduction

If you’ve successfully registered a trademark, congratulations! That ® symbol is a powerful asset. But the journey doesn’t stop there. To keep your trademark rights active, you must file renewals and maintenance documents at regular intervals with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

This leads many business owners to ask: “Are there agencies that can handle my trademark renewals for me?”

While filing agencies exist, the real question is whether you should use one. The truth is that when it comes to protecting something as valuable as your brand, the safest and most strategic choice is to work with a trademark attorney, not a third-party service.

Understanding Trademark Renewals

Trademark registrations don’t last forever. To maintain protection, you must file specific documents at set intervals:

  1. Between the 5th and 6th year: Section 8 Declaration of Use.

  2. At the 10-year mark and every 10 years after: Combined Section 8 & Section 9 Renewal.

  3. Optional: Section 15 Declaration of Incontestability (after 5 years of continuous use).

Missing a deadline or filing incorrectly can result in your trademark being canceled. And once canceled, your competitors could swoop in and register your mark.

The Appeal of Agencies

You may come across online agencies or “trademark service companies” advertising low-cost renewal filings. They promise quick submissions without the need to involve an attorney.

But here’s the problem:

  1. Agencies cannot provide legal advice.

  2. If your filing is deficient or incomplete, they won’t know how to fix it.

  3. They often operate with a one-size-fits-all approach, leaving your brand exposed.

What seems like a cost-saving shortcut can end up costing far more if your registration lapses or becomes vulnerable to challenge.

Why Work With a Trademark Attorney Instead

Your trademark is one of your business’s most valuable assets. When it comes to renewals, you need more than paperwork, you need strategy.

Here’s what a trademark attorney provides that an agency cannot:

  1. Legal Compliance: Attorneys ensure that your declaration of use and specimens meet USPTO requirements. Agencies simply submit whatever you give them.

  2. Strategic Advice: An attorney can spot vulnerabilities, such as gaps in use or changes in goods/services, and advise on how to address them before filing.

  3. Enforcement Insight: Attorneys can evaluate whether you should also take steps like filing a Declaration of Incontestability to strengthen your mark.

  4. Peace of Mind: Instead of wondering if an online service submitted your renewal correctly, you’ll know a professional is actively protecting your brand.

Common Pitfalls Without an Attorney

When business owners rely on agencies or try to file renewals themselves, they often run into these issues:

  1. Incorrect specimens of use that don’t show proper trademark usage.

  2. Missed deadlines because agencies fail to provide accurate reminders.

  3. Failure to update goods/services descriptions, leading to vulnerability.

  4. Overlooking optional filings like Section 15, missing the chance to make a mark incontestable.

Each of these mistakes can weaken your registration or even cause cancellation.

Cost vs. Value

Yes, agencies often advertise lower upfront costs. But here’s the truth:

  1. Agency fee + USPTO fee + risk of cancellation = expensive mistakes.

  2. Attorney fee + USPTO fee + strategic protection = long-term security.

The modest additional investment in an attorney more than pays for itself when you consider the consequences of losing trademark rights.

How Cohn Legal, PLLC Handles Renewals

At Cohn Legal, we don’t just “file forms.” We take a proactive role in keeping your trademarks strong by:

  1. Tracking your renewal deadlines and sending reminders well in advance.

  2. Reviewing your use of the mark to confirm compliance with USPTO requirements.

  3. Advising on strategic filings like Declarations of Incontestability.

  4. Ensuring filings are complete, accurate, and legally sound.

  5. Providing guidance if your business has expanded into new classes or products.

We simplify the process so you can focus on growing your business while knowing your brand is protected.

Conclusion

So, are there agencies that handle trademark renewals? Yes, but that doesn’t mean they’re the right choice.

Your trademark isn’t just paperwork, it’s the foundation of your brand identity. Filing agencies may submit forms, but they can’t provide the legal insight, compliance, and strategic guidance that a trademark attorney can.

Think big. Protect your dreams. And if you’re ready to secure your trademark renewals with confidence, Cohn Legal, PLLC is here to help.

Schedule your free consultation today.