How long does removal take?

Timeline varies by platform. Commercial data brokers typically process removal requests within 7 to 30 days. Official legal databases like Justia or CourtListener may take 2 to 8 weeks. PACER and official court systems require a court order and can take months. After any platform removes content, Google search results may take an additional 2 to 6 weeks to update - you must request de-indexing from Google separately.

Will Google still show my records after the platform removes them?

Yes - Google indexes and caches web pages independently. Even if a platform removes your record from their site, Google's search results can continue showing that content for weeks or months. You must submit a separate URL removal request to Google Search Console or use Google's outdated content removal tool to clear cached versions. We handle both the platform removal and Google de-indexing as part of our service.

Can I remove records myself for free?

Some platforms have self-service opt-out or removal request forms. However, success rates for DIY removal are low - platforms frequently deny requests, require specific legal documentation, or re-publish content from other sources. Our service handles the entire process on a results-only basis: you pay nothing until the records are confirmed removed.

Platform Guide · State Court Analytics

How to Remove Court Records from Trellis Law (2026 Guide)

Trellis is a legal analytics platform built around state court data - with particularly deep coverage of California. If your state court case appears on Trellis, you may have stronger removal options than on federal platforms, especially for California residents with expungement orders. Here is what you need to know in 2026.

Anthony Will CEO & Co-Founder · 13+ Years Experience

Published May 2026 · Expert Reviewed

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.

California Focus

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.

Your record is probably showing in more places than you realize - and each one can be addressed.

Most people who reach out to us had no idea how many places their record had spread. Justia, Google Scholar, UniCourt, background check sites - each one a new place where employers, landlords, or dates might find you. A free scan shows you exactly where you stand, so you can do something about it.

See Every Place Your Record Appears →

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 Diversity

State court records vary significantly by jurisdiction. Some states have strong public access laws that limit removal options; others, like California, have robust privacy and expungement frameworks. Your specific state and case type determine what removal paths are available.

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.

CCPA Leverage

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

Most people in your position reach out right here.

You've already done the hard part - finding out what's out there. We handle the rest: every platform removal, Google de-indexing, and background check site. No upfront cost. Completely confidential.

See What Can Be Done - Free or call us confidentially at 855-239-5322

1

Locate your record on Trellis. Search Trellis directly and via Google. Identify every page displaying your name and note the exact URLs with dated screenshots.
2

Determine 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.
3

Gather 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.
4

Submit 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.
5

Invoke 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.
6

Follow 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 Trellis Refuses - Google De-Indexing

If Trellis does not remove your record, Google de-indexing is the practical alternative. 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.

Suppression as a Backup

If neither Trellis removal nor Google de-indexing fully resolves the issue, a suppression strategy - publishing authoritative content on platforms that outrank Trellis - can push the Trellis page off page one of search results over time. This is a longer-term solution but can be effective for cases with limited removal options.

After Expungement or Sealing - Does Trellis Update?

No. California expungements and record sealings are processed by the court and do not automatically trigger updates to commercial databases like Trellis. 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

California Penal Code 1203.4

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 it does not erase the record from commercial databases automatically. Proactive outreach to each platform is required.

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.

Free Consultation

Is your Trellis listing removable?
Find out — free.

Tell us about your situation and a removal specialist will personally review it and respond within one business day. No pressure, no obligation.

No upfront payment — you only pay if we succeed A+ BBB Rated · 5,000+ Cases Handled · Since 2013 100% Confidential · Response within 1 business day

Frequently Asked Questions

Can Trellis remove my court record?

Trellis has a privacy and data removal request process. As a private commercial company, Trellis can act on removal requests - particularly those backed by a court order or citing CCPA rights for California residents. Submit a formal request through trellis.law identifying specific URLs, your legal basis, and supporting documentation.

How do I opt out of Trellis Law?

Submit a formal written request through trellis.law identifying the specific URLs displaying your information, your legal basis (expungement order, sealing order, or CCPA privacy right), and any supporting documentation. California residents can explicitly cite CCPA deletion rights to strengthen the request. Reference uscourts.gov for federal records context.

Does Trellis update when records are expunged?

No. California expungements and dismissals under Penal Code 1203.4 do not automatically update commercial databases like Trellis. You must separately submit a removal request with documentation of your expungement. California's strong privacy laws, including CCPA, give you additional leverage when making this request to Trellis.

How long does removal from Trellis take?

Trellis does not publish a standard response timeline. Requests with court order documentation have been addressed within 2–4 weeks in practice. After removal is confirmed, submit a Google de-indexing request for the specific Trellis URLs to clear cached search results, which can take an additional 2–6 weeks.

Will Google still show my records after Trellis removes them?

Yes, temporarily. When Trellis removes a page, Google will eventually de-index it - but this can take weeks. Use Google's URL Removal Tool to request immediate de-indexing of the specific Trellis URL once the page is removed. Also check Bing and other search engines, which require separate removal requests.

Does Trellis only cover California courts?

Trellis started with a strong focus on California state courts but has been expanding coverage to additional states. California remains its most comprehensive state court database. Check trellis.law for current coverage scope when researching your situation.

Do California privacy laws help me get my record removed from Trellis?

Yes, potentially. California residents have rights under CCPA that include the right to request deletion of personal information held by covered businesses. Trellis, as a commercial data aggregator, may be subject to these obligations. Citing your CCPA rights in a removal request adds legal weight to your privacy claim.

What if Trellis denies my removal request?

If Trellis denies your request or does not respond, pursue Google de-indexing through Google's Personal Information Removal Tool. Submitting the specific Trellis URLs and explaining the privacy harm can result in de-indexing even if Trellis retains the page. A suppression strategy can also push Trellis pages off page one for cases that cannot be fully removed.

Related Guides