Quick Overview
- Trellis is a legal analytics platform that aggregates state court docket information to help attorneys and legal teams analyze judges, case outcomes, and litigation strategies.
- Trellis pulls publicly available docket information directly from state court systems.
- Trellis has a privacy and data removal request process available through their website.
On this page 7 sections
What Is Trellis Law?
Trellis is a legal analytics platform that aggregates state court docket information to help attorneys and legal teams analyze judges, case outcomes, and litigation strategies. It was initially built around California's vast state court system - covering Superior Courts across all 58 counties - and has been expanding its coverage to additional states. For more information, visit the Trellis Law.
Unlike federal legal databases that pull from PACER, Trellis sources its data from state court systems. This gives it comprehensive coverage of case types common in state courts: civil litigation, criminal cases, family court proceedings that are part of the public record, unlawful detainer actions, small claims, and more. Learn more about expungement vs. record sealing on our blog.
Trellis pages appear in Google search results and can surface prominently when someone searches a person's name in conjunction with legal terms, location keywords, or case-related searches. For individuals dealing with state court matters - particularly in California - Trellis is a significant source of reputational exposure. Learn more about court record removal on our blog.
Trellis has the most comprehensive state court coverage for California. If you have a California state court matter - civil, criminal, family, or otherwise - there is a meaningful chance it appears on Trellis. This is especially relevant for California residents who have obtained expungements under Penal Code 1203.4. Learn more about background check reports on our blog.
Why Does Your Record Appear on Trellis?
Trellis pulls publicly available docket information directly from state court systems. Your record may appear because: For more information, visit the US Courts.
- You are a named party - plaintiff, defendant, petitioner, respondent, or debtor - in a state court case
- Your California Superior Court case is part of the public record and included in Trellis's data ingestion
- You are involved in a civil lawsuit, unlawful detainer, domestic violence restraining order proceeding, or other state civil matter
- A state criminal case in a covered jurisdiction lists you as a defendant
- A business entity with your name in the title is involved in state litigation
Because Trellis focuses on state courts where expungement is more commonly available - particularly California - many individuals appearing on Trellis have already gone through or are eligible for expungement. This creates a clear legal pathway for requesting removal with supporting documentation.
State court records vary significantly by jurisdiction. Some states have strong public access laws, which points the route toward de-indexing, sealing, or redaction; others, like California, have robust privacy and expungement frameworks that open direct removal paths. Your specific state and case type determine which route fits.
Does Trellis Have a Removal Process?
Yes. Trellis has a privacy and data removal request process available through their website. Because Trellis is a California-based company aggregating data about California residents, it operates under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) - which gives California residents meaningful rights to request deletion of personal information.
The strongest grounds for a Trellis removal request include:
- A California expungement or dismissal order under Penal Code 1203.4 or 1203.4a
- A court order sealing the record in any covered jurisdiction
- CCPA deletion request (for California residents)
- Other state privacy law rights applicable in your jurisdiction
- Compelling privacy interest - particularly cases involving sensitive personal circumstances or records that pose an ongoing identity theft or safety risk
Documented expungement orders are particularly effective with Trellis given its state court focus. When a California court has granted expungement, the legal basis for Trellis to continue publishing the record is weakened - and citing CCPA rights alongside the expungement order creates a strong combined claim.
California residents have the right under CCPA to request deletion of personal information from businesses that collect and sell consumer data. Trellis, as a commercial data aggregator, may be subject to these obligations. Including a CCPA deletion request alongside your expungement documentation strengthens your position.
Step-by-Step: How to Submit a Removal Request to Trellis
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1Locate your record on Trellis. Search Trellis directly and via Google. Identify every page displaying your name and note the exact URLs with dated screenshots.
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2Determine your legal basis. Do you have an expungement order? A sealing order? Are you invoking CCPA as a California resident? Knowing your strongest grounds shapes your request.
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3Gather documentation. Obtain a certified copy of your expungement or sealing order from the court clerk. If invoking CCPA, prepare a statement identifying yourself as a California resident exercising deletion rights.
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4Submit your request via Trellis's privacy or data team contact. Use their website's contact options to submit a formal removal request. Include the URLs, your legal basis, and attached documentation.
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5Invoke CCPA explicitly if applicable. If you are a California resident, explicitly state that you are exercising your right to deletion under the California Consumer Privacy Act. CCPA-covered businesses must respond to verified deletion requests within 45 days.
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6Follow up and escalate if needed. If no response within two weeks (or 45 days for CCPA), escalate. For unresolved CCPA claims, you may file a complaint with the California Privacy Protection Agency.
If the Direct Request Stalls - Google De-Indexing
When Trellis does not act on the direct request, Google de-indexing is the next route. Trellis pages that appear in Google can be targeted through Google's Personal Information Removal Tool, particularly when the page contains personal information that meets Google's removal criteria.
Submitting the De-Indexing Request
Use Google's Personal Information Removal Tool to submit the specific Trellis URLs. Explain the nature of the personal information displayed and the harm caused by its continued appearance in search results. If you have a California expungement, note this in your submission - Google factors in whether the underlying record has been legally cleared.
If Google approves your de-indexing request, the Trellis page will stop appearing in Google Search results - which addresses the primary source of reputational harm even if the page technically remains on Trellis's servers.
If neither Trellis removal nor Google de-indexing fully resolves the issue, a suppression strategy - publishing authoritative content on platforms that outrank Trellis - can add another layer by pushing the Trellis page off page one of search results over time. It is a longer-term route that can help when the direct routes need more time.
After Expungement or Sealing - Does Trellis Update?
Not automatically. California expungements and record sealings are processed by the court and do not automatically trigger updates to commercial databases like Trellis, so a documented removal request is what gets the record updated. The record was scraped from the court system when it was public, and Trellis has no automated mechanism to detect subsequent changes to a record's legal status.
After your California expungement is granted:
- Obtain a certified copy of your dismissal/expungement order (typically a Penal Code 1203.4 dismissal)
- Verify the court has updated its own public records to reflect the expungement
- Submit a removal request to Trellis with the order attached, citing both the legal change and your CCPA rights
- Follow up on all other state and federal platforms displaying the same record
- Request Google de-indexing for any platform that does not comply
A 1203.4 dismissal is one of the most commonly obtained California expungements. It changes your plea to not guilty and dismisses the case - but commercial databases do not update automatically, so proactive outreach to each platform is what completes the cleanup.
Working with Professionals on Trellis Removal
Trellis removal is frequently part of a broader multi-platform strategy. California cases showing on Trellis may also appear on CourtListener (for federal aspects), Justia, background check services like Spokeo or BeenVerified, and news archives. Addressing each platform requires a coordinated approach.
Professional removal services bring specific advantages to Trellis and California state court cases:
- Full audit: Identifying every platform currently displaying your California and state court records
- CCPA expertise: Properly invoking California privacy rights in removal requests for maximum effect
- Documentation: Preparing legally grounded requests citing expungement orders and applicable law
- Coordinated outreach: Submitting requests simultaneously across Trellis, background check sites, and legal databases
- Monitoring: Watching for re-indexing and new sources picking up the data after removal
We help identify whether removal may be possible from Trellis and all related platforms. Our case review is free and there is no upfront cost.
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