Special Situations
I inherited patents from a family member's estate — what now?
The short answer
First, check the fee status — 53.7% of patents are abandoned at maintenance deadlines, and inherited patents lapse by default while estates settle. Then record the ownership transfer with the USPTO, and only then decide: maintain, monetize, or let go.
The full picture
The triage sequence: pull each patent's status in the USPTO's maintenance-fee storefront (number plus application number), check remaining term, and calendar every deadline. A patent that lapsed recently can often be revived for unintentional delay; one that lapsed years ago is usually gone.
Then the commercial question: did your family member ever license, sell, or build on these? Correspondence, old business records, and the assignment record often reveal dormant deals or obvious buyers. Heirs are routinely surprised by what's sitting in the portfolio — an audit of what you've inherited is a natural first engagement, and we're glad to run it.
Where does your patent stand?
The Beyond the Patent Commercialization Score answers that — a professional, factor-by-factor read on your patent's licensing, sale, build, and partner potential.
Related questions
General information for patent owners — not legal advice. Read the disclaimer.