How to Check Trademark Status in the US Using TSDR
A plain guide to the USPTO’s TSDR system: where to look, what each status means, and what to do when it changes.
Ankit Pandya4 min read
Table of contents8 sections
To check trademark status in the US, go to the USPTO’s TSDR system, type your serial number or registration number in the search box, and click Status. The page that opens tells you whether the mark is live or dead, and what the USPTO has done with it so far.
No number with you? Find it first. Search the brand name on the USPTO’s Trademark Search tool, open the matching record, and copy the serial number from there. The old TESS system was shut down in November 2023, so if a website still sends you to it, that page is out of date.
TSDR is free, and it is the official record. Everything else online is a copy of it. If your application is pending, look at it every three to four months, because the USPTO does not extend a deadline just because an email went missing.
How to check the status, step by step
Open tsdr.uspto.gov.
Enter the number. Serial numbers usually have eight digits and registration numbers seven.
Click Status to see where the mark stands today.
Click Documents to read every filing and official letter in the file.
For a registered mark, click Maintenance to see the next filing deadline.
Keep a screenshot each time. The USPTO itself suggests this, because it shows you were watching the file if you ever miss something and have to ask for relief.
New documents can take a little while to show up. Don’t worry if yesterday’s filing is not there yet.
If a lawyer filed for you, they usually watch the file too. Still check it yourself now and then. It costs nothing, and you see things first-hand instead of waiting to be told.
What if you only know the brand name?
This is common when you want to check someone else’s mark before using your own. Start with Trademark Search and try spelling variations, not just the exact name. Then open each close match in TSDR and see if it is still live. A dead mark is usually no problem. A live one in a related class might be.
Not sure which class your goods fall in? Our trademark class search tool tells you the class from what you sell. It helps because the USPTO compares your mark with marks for related goods and services, not only the same word.
It is the same habit as an availability check in India, which we have covered in how to check trademark availability.
What the status on TSDR actually means
Every mark shows up as live or dead. If you are used to the Indian registry, our note on kinds of trademark status in India will help you compare. For the US, these are the ones you will meet most.
Status | What it means | What to do |
|---|---|---|
Awaiting examination | Filed, waiting for an examiner | Wait, keep your email current |
Under examination | Examiner is reviewing it | Watch for an office action |
Published for opposition | Cleared examination, open to public challenge | Nothing, unless someone opposes |
Opposition pending | Someone has challenged it | Your US attorney handles the response |
Registered | Registration granted | Note the maintenance dates |
Abandoned | Withdrawn, or no reply to a letter in time | Petition to revive, or refile |
Refused | Application cannot go ahead | Read the reason in Documents |
Cancelled or expired | Registration lost or not maintained | Start over with a new filing |
Dead does not always mean finished
An abandoned application usually means someone missed an office action deadline. The USPTO says the fees are not refunded. You can file a petition to revive, if you qualify, or start again with a fresh application.
A cancelled registration is harder. If the maintenance forms and fees were not filed on time, the USPTO says your only option is a new application. This is why the Maintenance button matters. Owners forget it because registration feels like the finish line.
Nobody from the USPTO will chase you either. Letters go to the email address in the record, and if that address is old, the first sign of trouble may be a dead status.
How long should you wait?
On the USPTO’s wait-time page (data as of 1 October 2026), the average gap between filing and the first examining action is 4.3 months. From filing to either registration or abandonment, the average is 10.4 months. Yours can be quicker or slower. So a status that has not moved for two months is not a red flag by itself.
Extra points for Indian businesses
TSDR is public, so you can check any US mark from India. Filing is different. Since 3 August 2019, applicants whose headquarters or permanent residence is outside the US must be represented by a US-licensed attorney at the USPTO. Replying to an office action also goes through that attorney.
Some Indian owners reach the US through the Madrid system, using their Indian mark as the base. Those filings show up in TSDR too, though a mark with a logo or stylised text may take a bit longer to appear. Our guide to international trademark registration under the Madrid Protocol explains the route.
If your brand is not protected at home yet, sort that first. Our trademark registration service covers the Indian filing.
One of our clients wrote on Google in June 2026 that the team stayed in touch and gave clear updates all through his filing. A US file needs the same thing: somebody who looks at it regularly.
A simple habit that saves marks
Put a reminder in your calendar every three months.
Keep your email address updated in the USPTO record, and add the USPTO to your safe senders list.
Note the maintenance dates on the day the registration is issued.
Open the Documents tab, not just Status, so you can read any letter yourself.
TSDR takes two minutes. Missing a deadline can cost you the whole registration.
Frequently asked questions
What is TSDR?
TSDR stands for Trademark Status and Document Retrieval. It is the USPTO’s official system for checking the status of a US trademark application or registration and reading every document filed in it.
Is TSDR free to use?
Yes. Anyone can look up a US mark on TSDR at no cost. Be careful with third-party sites that charge for “status reports”, as they only copy what TSDR already shows.
Where do I find my serial number?
Look in the filing receipt email from the USPTO. If you cannot find it, search the brand name on the USPTO’s Trademark Search tool and copy the serial number from the record.
How often should I check my trademark status?
The USPTO recommends every three to four months while the application is pending. After registration, keep checking until each maintenance filing has been accepted.
What is the difference between TSDR and Trademark Search?
Trademark Search helps you find marks by name, logo or class. TSDR opens the full status and documents of one specific mark, once you have its number.
Do Indian businesses need a US attorney to check status?
No, TSDR is public. But for filing, or replying to an office action, an applicant based outside the US must use a US-licensed attorney.
Written by
Content & Marketing Manager
Ankit Pandya is a marketing and content strategist with 8 years of experience across FMCG, D2C, and B2B. He writes about content strategy, digital marketing, AI-driven growth, and emerging industry trends, combining practical insights with real-world marketing experience.
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