What is the Index of Claims 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.

The Index of Claims is a document found in the image file wrapper of a patent application. It serves as a reference tool that provides an overview of all claims in the application and their current status. As stated in the MPEP, The ‘Index of Claims’ found in the image file wrapper of an application is frequently referenced. This index is crucial for tracking the progress and changes in claims throughout the prosecution process.