Go online to the United States Patent and Trademark Office (see the Resources section below).

Click on "Search Marks" to get to the Trademark Electronic Search System (TESS). Click on the first link, "New User Form Search (Basic)."

Do your trademark searches by typing the name you want to search in the "Search Term" field. Under "Field," select ALL. Then click the "Submit Query" button to do the first trademark search.

View the trademark search results. Your trademark searches will give you the current status of the trademark names.

If your trademark searches result in a screen that says, "No TESS records were found," then you may be in luck. It appears that there isn't a currently registered trademark with that name. However, when you file to register a trademark, the US Patent and Trademark Office will also conduct the search to confirm the trademark's availability.

If the trademark searches show that there are records found, then read the chart. Skim the "Word Mark" column for the trademark search name, and look at the "Live/Dead" column. If the status is Dead, then it may be an abandoned or unrenewed trademark, and you may be able use it. You can click on the records to get more information.

Check more trademark searches if needed, by hitting the browser's Back button until you get to the trademark search screen. Repeat Steps 2 and 3.

Consider using a trademark name service if you have many names to search, or if you are having issues with getting or interpreting results. The US Patent and Trademark Office cannot help you with technical or customer service questions. However, most trademark services can help answer your questions during the research process, and they can also help you with registering for a trademark name.