# Help filing a trademark application.

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-filing-a-trademark-application/370893>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [August 31, 2006, 8:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-filing-a-trademark-application/370893 "2006-08-31T08:46:44Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![magellan01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@magellan01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/magellan01)\
**Post date:** [August 31, 2006, 8:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-filing-a-trademark-application/370893/1 "2006-08-31T08:46:44Z")

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I just spent some time on the US Patent & Trademark site. Kinda confusing. Does anyone know of a site or book that gives extremely detailed step-by-step guidance in filing your own application? I need to be very careful and am wondering if I could do it without a lawyer.

Thanks.

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**Author:** ![spingears](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ebca7d/32.png) [@spingears](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spingears)\
**Post date:** [August 31, 2006, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-filing-a-trademark-application/370893/2 "2006-08-31T16:02:49Z")

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[QUOTE=magellan01]  
I just spent some time on the US Patent & Trademark site. Kinda confusing. Does anyone know of a site or book that gives extremely detailed step-by-step guidance in filing your own application? I need to be very careful and am wondering if I could do it without a lawyer. Thanks.  
[/QUOTE]  
Some town/cities have inventors groups or councils to exchange help on such topics.

You may want to check for state trademark registration first. I think that may be a required first step.