A patent attorney is not required for an application in Germany, but a patent attorney must be contacted for an application abroad in the country in question. However, it may be prudent to consult a patent attorney for their professional advice, since the wording of patent claims is often complicated.

In-depth knowledge of patent law is indispensable in obtaining the best possible property right protection, since the wording of patent claims is of fundamental importance to the patent and any rights arising from it. The patent office often rejects incorrect applications for patents that otherwise would have been granted if the applicant had received prior expert advice and support. The applicant thus wastes valuable time, while later claims they make to property rights may not hold in later citations or in cases of dispute due to poor wording.