How To Keep Track of Important Deadlines in the Patent Process?

Got a question today about tracking important deadlines in the patent process. Hi, I’m JD Houvener, a patent attorney here at Bold Patents Law Firm. I’ve been helping inventors for over 10 years, and we’ve secured nearly 500 patents so far. I’m also the author of Bold Ideas: The Inventor’s Guide to Patents, available on Amazon. And for those tuning in here on YouTube, check out the Bold Inventor’s Kit below for a free PDF download with tutorials on patent searching, prosecution, and the patent prosecution matrix.

Now, let’s dive into the question: How do I stay on top of deadlines during the patent process?

First off, the big ones. Statutory bars. If you’ve publicly disclosed your invention, sold it, or offered it for sale over a year ago, you’ve got a drop-dead deadline. Once a year has passed, your patent rights are on the line. That’s why it’s crucial to file a patent application before that one-year mark. Even if it’s just a provisional application, get it in early!

Once that’s done, here’s where things get specific: If you’ve filed a provisional application, you have exactly 365 days to file a non-provisional application. This is where the clock really starts ticking. Plan to file well before that year is up. I always recommend starting the process around 9 months into your provisional filing, leaving yourself two or three months to finalize the details—drawings, specifications, claims—so everything is ready before the 12-month deadline.

When you submit your non-provisional, be prepared for some paperwork requests. If there’s anything missing or if there’s a formality issue, you’ll get a notice. These notices often aren’t about the substance of your patent, but about paperwork or missing fees. It’s easy to miss these, but if you do, your application could go into abandonment—meaning you’ll lose your chance to move forward unless you file additional paperwork and pay extra fees. Not fun, right?

To avoid all this, I recommend using docketing software. At Bold Patents, we handle hundreds of applications, so staying on top of these deadlines is key. We also use a backup calendar system—Google Calendar, reminders, and personal task lists—to make sure nothing slips through the cracks.

So, bottom line? Don’t let your application sit idle. Stay ahead of the deadlines and respond promptly to notices. Trust me, you don’t want to get stuck in the abandonment process.

Hope that helps! Stay on top of those dates, and keep pushing forward. Go big, go bold!