In filing a patent application and paying required fees, the USPTO provides forms and an electronic filing tool. Each patent application has several forms that must be filled out and submitted.A list of these forms can be found here. Once the patent application is taken up for examination, a patent examiner will examine all claims in the patent application. The patent attorney files the patent application with the patent office, along with "formal" paperwork, which includes a declaration of inventorship. Are you applying for a patent? Learn more about how a provisional patent can be used to protect your innovation in the interim. Consult your own attorney. The North Carolina Secretary of State cannot provide legal services in the event that you need legal services in matters relating to Invention Development. The Patent Pro Bono Program connects inventors in the community with patent counsel to address this issue.