If you’ve found content in Google Search that violates the law in your country but doesn’t fall under a typical takedown category, there’s still a path forward. Google’s Legal Other form handles unique legal complaints that don’t fit into copyright, defamation, or privacy tools.
This guide explains what the form is for, how to use it, and what to expect.
Jump ahead to the removal steps.
What Is Google’s Legal Other Form?
The Legal Other form is a fallback option used to report content that’s unlawful or harmful, but not covered by Google’s standard legal removal tools. It’s designed for more complex cases and is typically reviewed manually.
You might use this form if:
- You’re reporting harassment or threats not covered by privacy tools
- You have a court order that doesn’t fit standard templates
- You’re a legal agent submitting on behalf of a client
- You’re citing a specific regional law or unusual circumstance
For a deeper dive into all your options for removing Google search results, check out our complete guide on How to Delete Google Search Results and our guide on all of Google’s Content Removal Tools.
What You’ll Need to Include
Google requires specific details to process this type of legal complaint. Be prepared to submit:
1. Your information
Country of residence
Full legal name
Contact email
Company name and client name (if submitting on someone’s behalf)
2. Allegedly infringing URLs
- List all URLs that contain the unlawful content
- You can add multiple URLs in one submission
- Google recommends 10 to 100 URLs per request for fastest processing
3. Detailed legal explanation
You’ll be asked to:
- Explain what law was violated, and how it applies
- Describe the harm (emotional, reputational, financial, etc.)
- Quote the exact text or describe the image/video from each URL
- Attach evidence like court orders, police reports, ID, or legal letters
Do not include personal information (like your home address) in the legal explanation field, since it may be shared publicly with Lumen.
What Happens After You Submit?
Once submitted, your request is:
- Reviewed by Google’s legal team
- Evaluated under local laws and Google policies
- Potentially shared with Lumen, a research group studying takedown requests (your personal details are not shared unless legally necessary)
If approved, the URLs may be:
- Removed from Google Search results
- Delisted in certain countries only, depending on the law cited
Keep in mind: Google does not control the web page itself. Even if it’s removed from search results, the content may still exist on the original site.
Common Use Cases for the Legal Other Form
Here are some scenarios where this form may apply:
| Situation | Example |
|---|---|
| Foreign court order | A French civil court ruling about a defamatory blog post targeting a local politician |
| False criminal accusation | A private website falsely naming someone in a crime that never happened |
| Revenge site abuse | A personal attack posted on a gossip or mugshot site that doesn’t meet privacy or defamation criteria |
| Local business extortion | Anonymous threats or blackmail posted on niche forums not indexed by other removal tools |
| Content targeting minors | Harmful posts directed at children or teens that violate local child protection laws |
| Personal medical data leak | Private medical info posted without consent on a discussion forum |
| Harassment by ex-partner | Ongoing threats or revenge content posted by a former partner on personal blogs or obscure platforms |
| Religious or ethnic targeting | Content inciting hate or discrimination against a specific religious or ethnic group based on local laws |
Tips for a Successful Submission
- Use clear legal citations if possible (e.g., §230 of German Criminal Code)
- Submit all relevant URLs in one request to avoid delays
- Avoid emotional language and stick to facts and documentation
- Double-check your signature matches your full legal name at the top
This form is slower and more case-by-case than Google’s other removal tools. But if your situation doesn’t fit anywhere else, it’s still worth submitting. A well-documented, legally grounded request can lead to successful delisting, even when other forms fail.
