State trademark searches
Last updated 25 October 2026
A Domainity report searches the federal trademark register kept by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). It does not search state registers.
What a state registration is
Each state runs its own trademark register, usually through the Secretary of State. A business that trades within one state can register its mark there instead of, or as well as, federally. State registrations protect the mark within that state only, and none of them appear in the federal register — so a clean federal search says nothing about them.
They are worth checking when the domain name matches a business or product that might be local or regional, or when you plan to use the domain in a particular state.
Where to search
The USPTO keeps a current list of every state's trademark office, with links — all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. Each office runs its own search, and they differ: some have an online database, others take requests by email or post.
State trademark information links — USPTO
What neither register covers
In the United States, using a mark in business creates rights even without any registration — so-called common-law rights. No register records them. A web search for the name, and for businesses using it, is the practical way to find them.
For a purchase where a conflict would matter, ask a trademark attorney for a clearance search. Domainity's check is a screening tool, not legal advice.