In the previous section, we discussed the two types of parent applications, the nonprovisional and provisional patent applications. These are referred to as "parents" because they may be filed in the absence of any previous patent application. On the other hand, offspring or subsequent applications may only be filed after a parent application has been filed.

Things would be so much simpler for the patent practitioner if provisional and nonprovisional applications were the end of the story. But there are several other patent application types.

Offspring applications, (termed second or subsequent applications) are also a possibility.

Applicants have choices when it comes to these offspring applications (stress the "s"). Divisional, continuing, continuation-in-part (C-I-P), continued prosecution applications (CPA), reissue, SIR's, and substitute applications may all be filed as offspring applications after the parent application has been filed.  We will discuss each offspring application type briefly in the sections that follow.