What Is the Timeline for Filing a Patent Application When Working with a Patent Attorney?

How long does it take to file a patent application with a patent attorney?

A first-time inventor will often ask how long it takes to move from an initial conversation with a patent attorney to a filed patent application. The answer depends on the complexity of the invention, the quality of the information available, how quickly the inventor can review drafts, and whether any urgent commercial deadline exists. In a normally progressing matter, however, a period of around one month from first substantive engagement to filing is a realistic working expectation.

At Patent Outsourcing Limited, the process is deliberately staged. The objective is not simply to produce a document quickly, but to use the interaction between inventor and patent attorney to identify the real invention, investigate relevant prior art where appropriate, draft claims and description around the technical contribution, and then give the inventor a proper opportunity to review the result before filing.

Stage 1: initial contact and introductory discussion

The first step is usually an introductory discussion. This allows the inventor to explain, at a high level, what has been developed, what problem it addresses, what stage the project has reached, and what intellectual property protection may be relevant. The patent attorney can then make a preliminary assessment of whether useful services can be provided and what further information is likely to be needed.

The initial discussion does not normally require every detail of the invention to be resolved immediately. Its purpose is to orientate both sides and establish whether the matter is suitable for patent work, whether there are obvious timing or disclosure issues, and what the next step should be.

Stage 2: further information, quotation and engagement terms

Following the introductory discussion, the potential client will usually provide additional technical information over the next one or two working days. Depending on the matter, this may include sketches, photographs, technical notes, prototype information, explanations of how the invention works, known competing products, or details of any previous disclosure.

On the basis of that material, or sometimes directly from the original discussion where the position is already sufficiently clear, Patent Outsourcing Limited will typically provide a quotation within the next one or two working days. The quotation records the proposed scope of work, anticipated stages and costs. At the same time, a new client will receive the firm's Terms of Engagement and the information required for regulatory onboarding, including a request for suitable personal identification.

Stage 3: onboarding and first-stage payment

Acceptance of the quotation, completion of the engagement formalities and provision of identification will commonly take a further one or two working days, depending largely on the client. Patent work is normally divided into stages, with the first stage payment made before substantive drafting begins and later payments becoming due as agreed before filing.

Once the first-stage payment and the necessary instructions have been received, the drafting work can begin. This provides a clear point at which both client and attorney know that the matter is formally underway.

Stage 4: technical review, prior-art investigation and first draft

The next stage is the substantive patent work. The attorney reviews the invention in detail, considers what appears to be technically important, identifies questions that need to be resolved and, where appropriate, investigates relevant prior art. Prior-art work at this stage is not necessarily a full freedom-to-operate exercise; its purpose is commonly to understand the technical landscape and improve the quality and positioning of the draft patent application.

For a normally progressing matter, Patent Outsourcing Limited would typically aim to provide a first substantive draft in around one working week after the drafting stage begins. More complex inventions, incomplete technical information, substantial drawing work or unusual legal issues can increase that period.

Stage 5: client review and feedback

The inventor then reviews the first draft. There is no benefit in forcing this stage into an artificial deadline, because the inventor should read the application carefully and consider whether it properly reflects the invention. Nevertheless, a review period of a few working days to about one working week is usually preferable.

The review is an important part of the drafting process. The patent attorney brings the legal and patent-drafting perspective, but the inventor remains the principal source of technical knowledge. Comments on missing embodiments, alternative configurations, technical advantages and later development ideas can materially improve the final application.

Stage 6: revision, optimisation and filing

Once the inventor's comments are received, the application is revised and optimised. A further draft is then provided, commonly as the final or near-final form. Any remaining points can be resolved and, once the client approves the application for filing, the patent attorney prepares and submits the formal filing documents to the Patent Office.

Those final stages typically take around one or two weeks, depending particularly on the number of revisions and the speed of client feedback. Taken as a whole, a straightforward matter can therefore often progress from initial contact to filing in approximately one month.

Can the process be accelerated?

Yes, but acceleration should be used sensibly. In genuinely urgent circumstances, a turnaround of around two weeks can be realistic where the invention is sufficiently developed and information is supplied promptly. Very compressed work is easier to accommodate for established clients where the professional relationship, regulatory arrangements and working methods are already in place.

Speed is not always an advantage. Patent drafting benefits from active interaction between inventor and attorney. If the process is allowed to drift for months, technical memories can fade, new developments may become confused with the original invention and the momentum of the project can diminish. Conversely, attempting to compress a complex invention into a few days can prevent proper technical reflection. A focused period of approximately a month is often a useful balance.

Why is a UK patent application often a useful first filing?

For UK-based inventors, a United Kingdom patent application is often a practical first step. It secures a filing date and can provide relatively early official feedback. The UK Intellectual Property Office allows filing, search and substantive examination to be requested together. Where the search request and examination request are filed together, the application normally enters the combined search and examination procedure unless the applicant asks otherwise.

The UKIPO states that search reports are intended to issue within six months of the search request and that, where examination is requested when the initial application is filed, substantive examination can also take place within about six months. Patent Outsourcing Limited commonly recommends requesting search and examination at the outset where the commercial objective is to obtain useful Patent Office feedback as early as reasonably possible. In practice, allowing approximately six to nine months for the first substantial official feedback is a sensible planning assumption, although individual cases vary.

What happens after filing?

Once the application has been filed, the immediate drafting stage is complete and the filing date becomes the key reference point for the invention disclosed in that application. The UKIPO will issue filing details and carry out its preliminary checks. If search and examination have been requested at filing, the next major substantive event is normally the official search and examination report.

That report can be particularly valuable because it provides an independent assessment by the Patent Office and identifies earlier documents considered relevant to novelty and inventive step. It also provides a basis for deciding how to respond to any objections and, importantly, how much further investment should be made in wider international patent protection.

What proportion of patent applications succeed?

There is no single meaningful UK patent grant percentage that applies to every applicant, technology and filing strategy. The UKIPO itself cautions that the number of applications filed in one calendar year cannot simply be compared with the number of patents granted in the same year, because grants usually relate to applications filed several years earlier. The IPO has also published separate data comparing represented and unrepresented applicants, illustrating that professional representation is an important practical factor.

As another indication, UKIPO research covering published patent applications from 1997 to 2024 reported that 61.3% of those published applications had been granted by June 2025. That figure should not be treated as the success rate for a newly filed application because it excludes applications that never reached publication and recent cases may still be pending. Patentability also varies considerably by technology and by the quality and scope of the invention.

Patent Outsourcing Limited's own experience is that its patent grant success rate is greater than 80%. That is an historical practice figure rather than a guarantee for any particular new application. The outcome in every case depends on the invention, the prior art, the technology involved, the scope of protection sought and the issues identified by the Patent Office.

The next timeline: what happens after the filing date?

The filing date is the beginning of a second, much longer timeline. During the following twelve months the applicant enters what is commonly called the priority year, during which important decisions may need to be made about foreign and international protection. The UK application itself also continues through search, examination and ultimately grant or termination.

That post-filing process is considered separately in our companion article, “What Is the Timeline for a United Kingdom Patent Application?”, which starts at the filing date and follows the UK application through the priority year and the main international filing options.

How long does it normally take a patent attorney to prepare and file a patent application?

For a normally progressing matter, around one month from initial substantive engagement to filing is a realistic working period. The timing depends on the complexity of the invention and how quickly information and client comments are provided.

Can a patent application be prepared in two weeks?

Sometimes. A two-week turnaround can be realistic for an urgent and sufficiently developed invention, particularly for an established client, but very compressed drafting is not appropriate for every case.

Do I need a finished prototype before instructing a patent attorney?

No. A finished commercial prototype is not normally required. What matters is that the invention can be explained clearly enough for the attorney to understand how it works and how it can be carried out.

How quickly will I receive a first draft?

At Patent Outsourcing Limited, a first substantive draft will commonly be targeted for around one working week after the drafting stage begins, assuming the required technical information is available.

How long should I take to review the patent draft?

A few working days to about one working week is often a useful period. The inventor should review carefully, but unnecessarily long delays can make the drafting process less efficient.

When will the UK Patent Office provide its first report?

The UKIPO states that a search report should issue within six months of the search request. Where substantive examination is requested at filing, combined search and examination can also provide examination feedback within about six months. In practical planning, six to nine months is a sensible allowance for the first substantial official feedback.

Does filing mean that I have a granted patent?

No. Filing creates a pending patent application and secures a filing date for the disclosed subject matter. A patent is granted only after the application has satisfied the statutory requirements through examination.

What is the likelihood of obtaining a patent?

There is no universal percentage. Success depends on the invention, prior art, technology and quality of the application. Patent Outsourcing Limited's own historical experience is a grant success rate greater than 80%, but that cannot predict the outcome of an individual case.

Important notice: This article is provided for general information only and is not legal advice. It is a brief overview of a complex area and does not take account of your particular circumstances, commercial objectives or the specific facts of any matter. Intellectual property rights, filing strategy and legal outcomes will depend on the detail of the case and the applicable jurisdiction. You should not rely on this article as a substitute for taking advice from a suitably qualified legal professional. If you require advice on a specific matter, you should seek advice directly from a patent attorney, solicitor or other appropriate legal practitioner.

Source references

Timing and procedural information checked against the following sources (current at September 2026):

UKIPO patent grant timeline: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/patent-grant-timeline/patent-grant-timeline

UKIPO search, publication and examination guidance: https://www.gov.uk/patent-your-invention/request-your-search-and-examination

UKIPO accelerated and combined search/examination guidance: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/patents-fast-grant/patents-fast-grant-guidance

UKIPO Formalities Manual - Combined Search and Examination: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/formalities-manual-online-version/chapter-7-preliminary-examination-and-reports

UKIPO success rates of non-represented patent applicants: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/success-rates-of-non-represented-patent-applicants

UKIPO research on published patent applications and grants: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/female-participation-in-inventorship/female-participation-in-inventorship--2