How to Remove Court Records Like UniCourt and Trellis Law from Google Search Results

When court records like lawsuits, court dockets, or judgments are published on public databases like UniCourt, Trellis Law, Justia, or CourtListener, they usually get indexed by Google—so anyone searching for your name or business may find them. Even if the case was resolved or dismissed, the harm to your public image can last many years. Here’s how to regain control over your online reputation by making these documents less searchable in search results and even remove court records outright.

1. Identify the Source and Indexing Pattern

Public court records are collected and published by sites like UniCourt and Trellis Law. Google crawls and indexes the pages, and they become search results on your name. Even if the legal matter is irrelevant or resolved, these listings continue unless you take action in a specific manner.

2. Determine Eligibility for Removal or Suppression

Each case is different. Typically, there are some questions that are relevant:

• Was the case dismissed or settled in your favor?

• Does the case include sensitive or antiquated information?

• Is your name being linked to a business scenario in which you have no current connection?

• If so, it may be eligible to be removed, de-indexed, or suppressed.

3. Contact the Publishing Platform (if necessary)

Some legal aggregation websites, like UniCourt or Justia, may allow updates to content or redaction requests under specific circumstances. If your case meets specific requirements—e.g., expungement, sealing, or confirmed harm—you may submit a removal request directly with them.

Note: Trellis Law does not typically remove content but may update it in accordance with new docket filings or entries.

4. Ask Google to De-Index

If content can’t be removed from the source, your secondary action is attempting to de-index it from Google. This entails that the page remains but won’t be included in search results.

To achieve this:

File a request using Google’s Outdated Content Removal Tool (in effect only when content has since changed or been removed).

• Submit a legal request using Google’s Legal Help form.

• Google is able to approve de-indexing in some situations, such as:

• Revenge content

• Personally identifiable information

• Content violating European GDPR laws

5. Adopt a Suppression Strategy

If removal isn’t viable, suppression is the next best option. This involves depressing negative content in search results by generating fresh, optimized content that will rank better.

Effective suppression practices include:

• Publishing SEO-optimized blog posts, press releases, and profiles

• Optimizing and claiming business listings (for example, Google Business Profile)

• Securing media coverage or interviews that put your business or name in a positive light

6. How TheBestReputation Can Assist

TheBestReputation provides professional removal and suppression of negative legal content from the search engines. Our professionals combine legal expertise, online strategy, and proven SEO methods to deliver concrete results for our clients.

Here’s how we can assist:

• Direct Negotiation with Publishers: We negotiate directly with publishers like UniCourt, Justia, and others to achieve removals or redactions.

• Custom Legal Takedown Strategy: We evaluate if you are eligible for legal grounds such as expungement, sealing, or GDPR-based removal requests.

• Google De-Indexing Support: We handle Google’s legal and stale content removal procedures on your behalf.

• Aggressive Suppression Campaigns: We leverage a combination of press coverage, branded content, and technical SEO to suppress negative links off the first page.

• Ongoing Monitoring & Protection: We track your name or business in real time to catch next potential legal listings before they are a problem. 

If you are an entrepreneur, executive, or professional whose name has been linked with a bogus or outdated legal matter, we have the tools and expertise to clean your name and keep your name as spotless as possible online. 

Take Charge of Your Online Reputation

Regardless of whether you are a business owner, public figure, or professional, having your name linked to a court record, even unfairly, can tarnish your credibility. Let old court records not dictate your online reputation. Contact TheBestReputation today for a complimentary consultation and discover how we can assist in reinstating and defending your online reputation.