Anytime you decide to file a patent, you must take into consideration that these are legally binding. The documents you file on are set forth by our government and are legally binding. So you will want to take this process very serious. No, it does not mean that you have to hire an attorney to file for you. Certainly hiring one can have advantages though, but can disadvantages as well. A good patent lawyer should know how to word the document properly to assist you in getting your application through faster. They should know the system and the ups and downs of filing. They can also speed up the process by making sure your application is well filled out. The bad part of hiring one can be the cost. You must weigh your own options to make sure you are doing what feels right. Taking it seriously is a must. You do not want to break any governmental laws by not following them after you get your patent. So if you are ready to take your invention to the next level, consider what you will do next. Will you try for a patent? If so, do you hire a professional to do it or not?