When is a new oath or declaration required in a patent application?
This page is an FAQ based on guidance from the Manual of Patent Examining Procedure. It is provided as guidance, with links to the ground truth sources. This is information only: it is not legal advice.
A new oath or declaration is required in a patent application under the following circumstances:
- When filing a continuation or divisional application
- When filing a continuation-in-part application
- To correct inventorship in an application
- When the original oath or declaration was defective
According to MPEP 602.02: ‘A new oath or declaration is required in a continuation or divisional application filed under 37 CFR 1.53(b) or in a continuation-in-part application.’ Additionally, the MPEP states that ‘A new oath or declaration in compliance with 37 CFR 1.63 or 1.67 is required in a continuation or divisional application filed under 37 CFR 1.53(b), regardless of whether a copy of the oath or declaration from the prior application is submitted.’