# 37 CFR § 1.43: Application for patent by a legal representative of a deceased or legally incapacitated inventor

> Federal · Regulations · In force

URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-37-1.43

## Section

- **Citation:** 37 CFR § 1.43
- **Heading:** Application for patent by a legal representative of a deceased or legally incapacitated inventor
- **Jurisdiction:** Federal
- **Kind:** Regulations
- **Status:** In force
- **Text as of:** September 22, 2026
- **Source:** Publisher's official text
- **Location:** Title 37—Patents, Trademarks, and Copyrights > CHAPTER I—UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE, DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE > SUBCHAPTER A—GENERAL > PART 1—RULES OF PRACTICE IN PATENT CASES > Subpart B—National Processing Provisions > Who May Apply for a Patent

## Text

If an inventor is deceased or under legal incapacity, the legal representative of the inventor may make an application for patent on behalf of the inventor. If an inventor dies during the time intervening between the filing of the application and the granting of a patent thereon, the letters patent may be issued to the legal representative upon proper intervention. See § 1.64 concerning the execution of a substitute statement by a legal representative in lieu of an oath or declaration.
[77 FR 48815, Aug. 14, 2012]

## Nearby sections

- [37 CFR § 1.31 § 1.31 Applicant and patent owner may be represented by one or more patent practitioners or joint inventors.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-37-1.31.md)
- [37 CFR § 1.32 § 1.32 Power of attorney.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-37-1.32.md)
- [37 CFR § 1.33 § 1.33 Correspondence respecting patent applications, patent reexamination proceedings, and other proceedings.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-37-1.33.md)
- [37 CFR § 1.34 § 1.34 Acting in a representative capacity.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-37-1.34.md)
- [37 CFR § 1.36 § 1.36 Revocation of power of attorney; withdrawal of patent attorney or agent.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-37-1.36.md)
- [37 CFR § 1.41 § 1.41 Inventorship.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-37-1.41.md)
- [37 CFR § 1.42 § 1.42 Applicant for patent.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-37-1.42.md)
- [37 CFR § 1.43 § 1.43 Application for patent by a legal representative of a deceased or legally incapacitated inventor.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-37-1.43.md)
- [37 CFR § 1.45 § 1.45 Application for patent by joint inventors.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-37-1.45.md)
- [37 CFR § 1.46 § 1.46 Application for patent by an assignee, obligated assignee, or a person who otherwise shows sufficient proprietary interest in the matter.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-37-1.46.md)
- [37 CFR § 1.48 § 1.48 Correction of inventorship pursuant to 35 U.S.C. 116 or correction of the name or order of names in a patent application, other than a reissue application.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-37-1.48.md)
- [37 CFR § 1.51 § 1.51 General requisites of an application.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-37-1.51.md)
- [37 CFR § 1.52 § 1.52 Language, paper, writing, margins, read-only optical disc specifications.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-37-1.52.md)
- [37 CFR § 1.53 § 1.53 Application number, filing date, and completion of application.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-37-1.53.md)

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Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-37-1.43. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.