Your Brand Deserves Federal Protection Not Just a Good Name
You built something real. A trademark is how you make sure no one can take it from you.
The Legal Right to Your Brand Name
A trademark isn't just paperwork filed with the government. It's a federal declaration that your brand name, logo, or slogan belongs to you and the legal authority to enforce that ownership nationwide. Federal trademark registration strengthens your legal rights and gives you powerful tools to protect your brand against unauthorized use nationwide.
If someone else registers your brand name before you do, you could be forced to rebrand entirely, lose your social media handles, and walk away from every dollar you've invested in building that brand.
I'm Danielle, a trademark attorney and the founder of Her Legacy Law Firm. My practice exists specifically for entrepreneurs like you Women Entrepreneurs building businesses that deserve to last.
CEO Life With a Trademark vs. Without One
Without a federal trademark, you're building on borrowed ground. Here's what that looks like in practice:
Without a Trademark
- You can't stop someone else from using your business name even if you've been using it for years
- You have no legal basis to send a cease and desist letter that holds up
- A competitor can file for your name first and force you to rebrand
- Your brand equity the goodwill, the recognition, the audience you built is unprotected
- You're one letter from a lawyer away from starting over
With a Federal Trademark
- You own exclusive nationwide rights to your brand name, logo, or slogan
- You have the legal authority to send cease and desist letters that carry real weight
- You can stop copycats on Etsy, Amazon, and social media platforms
- Your brand becomes a business asset one you can license, sell, or pass down
- You can use the ® symbol and put competitors on notice
What Trademark Services I Offer
Every client's situation is different, so I offer multiple ways to work with me from a comprehensive one-day package to ongoing brand monitoring after your registration is secured.
Not every family needs the same level of planning, but everyone benefits from having clear legal documents in place. Will-based planning provides straightforward protections supported by personalized legal guidance.
Your healthcare wishes deserve to be clearly documented before a crisis occurs. Advance healthcare directives help your loved ones and medical providers understand your preferences when you cannot communicate them yourself.
From LLC formation to business contracts, I give you the legal foundation your business needs to operate with confidence and protect itself.
Full-service federal trademark registration with the USPTO. I handle the clearance search, application strategy, and filing — and if an office action comes back, I respond to it at no additional charge.
Full-service federal trademark registration with the USPTO. I handle the clearance search, application strategy, and filing and if an office action comes back, I respond to it at no additional charge.
Trademark-in-a-Day
A 4-hour session where I walk you step-by-step through searching your trademark, preparing your application, and filing it with the USPTO. You do the work with a trademark attorney right there to guide you and answer your questions.
Before you file or before you invest more in a brand a professional clearance search confirms whether your name is available to register and flag any conflicts that could get your application rejected.
Got a letter from the USPTO you don't understand? An office action is a formal objection to your application, and it requires a legal response. I handle office action responses for clients who filed on their own and hit a wall.
Registration is not the finish line. After your trademark is approved, I offer ongoing monitoring to alert you when a conflicting application is filed so you can act before the damage is done.
Buying a trademark package should not feel like dropping money into a void. Here is exactly what happens the moment your purchase is complete.
Complete Your Intake Form
Immediately after checkout, you'll receive a link to your client intake form through my CRM. This is where you provide the details I need to begin your trademark search — your brand name, logo files if applicable, and the goods or services your brand covers.
Office located at 806 Green Valley Road, Suite 200, Greensboro, NC 27408 (appointments only)
Complete Your Intake Form
Immediately after checkout, you'll receive a link to your client intake form through my CRM. This is where you provide the details I need to begin your trademark search — your brand name, logo files if applicable, and the goods or services your brand covers.
What Happens When You Work With Me
Clearance Search
Before anything is filed, I conduct a professional trademark search to assess availability and identify potential conflicts. This step protects your filing fee and your time.
Strategy and Application Preparation
I review your business, your brand, and the correct trademark classes for your goods or services. Then I prepare and file your application with the USPTO structured to give it the strongest chance of approval.
USPTO Examination
The USPTO assigns an examiner to review your application. This process typically takes several months. If the examiner raises an objection called an office action I respond on your behalf. No extra charge.
Publication and Registration
If approved, your trademark is published for opposition. Barring any third-party challenges, your registration certificate is issued and your brand is federally protected.
Why Not Just Use Legal Zoom?
This is a fair question, and I'd rather answer it directly than pretend it isn't being asked.
LegalZoom and similar platforms can file a trademark application. What they cannot do is conduct a strategic clearance search, advise you on the right trademark classes, respond to a USPTO office action with legal arguments, or tell you when an application is likely to fail before you spend the filing fee finding out.
The USPTO does not issue refunds. Filing fees are paid upfront and are non-refundable whether your application is approved or rejected. An attorney-prepared application is more likely to be approved on the first filing and if it isn't, I'm already in your corner to respond.
The filing fee alone for a standard trademark application runs $250–$350 per class. When you add the cost of an office action response from a separate attorney, or a second filing after a rejection, a DIY approach often costs more than working with me from the start.
Flat-Fee Pricing With No Surprise Bills
Every trademark package at Her Legacy Law Firm is priced as a flat fee. You know what you're paying before we start, and that number doesn't change if the USPTO sends back an office action. I cover procedural and substantive office action responses as part of the package because the goal is your registration, not a longer invoice.
Frequently Asked Questions About Trademark Registration
How do I find a trademark attorney for my small business?
Look for an attorney who specializes in trademark and intellectual property law not a general practice attorney who handles trademarks occasionally. I work exclusively with small business owners and entrepreneurs, and my entire practice is built around protecting brands like yours. You can start by filling out my intake form or purchasing a package directly from the shop.
How long does trademark registration take?
The USPTO currently processes applications in roughly 8–12 months from filing to registration, though timelines vary. If an office action is issued, the process extends while the response is reviewed. My Trademark-in-a-Day package gets your application filed within one business day the USPTO timeline begins the moment your application is submitted.
Do I need a trademark if I already have an LLC?
Yes. An LLC registration protects your business entity at the state level it does not give you exclusive rights to your brand name nationwide. Two businesses in different states can legally operate under the same name without trademark protection. A federal trademark is the only mechanism that gives you nationwide exclusivity.
What is an office action and what happens if I get one?
An office action is a formal objection issued by a USPTO examiner. It can be procedural a fixable error in the application or substantive, meaning the examiner has found a legal conflict or reason to refuse registration. Substantive office actions require a legal argument in response, citing case law and USPTO guidelines. If you receive one, I handle the response. For clients in my trademark packages, this is included at no additional charge.
When is the right time to trademark my business name?
As early as possible. Trademark rights in the US go to the first party to file, not the first to use the name. If you're actively using a name in your business, you can file now. If your brand isn't in commerce yet, an Intent-to-Use application lets you claim your filing date before you launch. Waiting until your brand is established increases the risk that someone else files first.
Can I trademark my business name if I'm just starting out?
Yes. You don't need to be an established business to file a trademark application. An Intent-to-Use application allows entrepreneurs to file based on a genuine intent to use the mark in commerce which means you can lock in your priority date from day one.
Ready to Own Your Brand?
You've put too much into your business to leave your name unprotected. Whether you're ready to file today or still have questions, I'm here to help you move forward with clarity.