diff --git a/packages/plugin-search/src/utilities/syncDocAsSearchIndex.ts b/packages/plugin-search/src/utilities/syncDocAsSearchIndex.ts
index 7755f44a5..95167e918 100644
--- a/packages/plugin-search/src/utilities/syncDocAsSearchIndex.ts
+++ b/packages/plugin-search/src/utilities/syncDocAsSearchIndex.ts
@@ -43,11 +43,16 @@ export const syncDocAsSearchIndex = async ({
   if (typeof beforeSync === 'function') {
     let docToSyncWith = doc
     if (payload.config?.localization) {
+      // Check if document is trashed (has deletedAt field)
+      const isTrashDocument = doc && 'deletedAt' in doc && doc.deletedAt
+
       docToSyncWith = await payload.findByID({
         id,
         collection,
         locale: syncLocale,
         req,
+        // Include trashed documents when the document being synced is trashed
+        trash: isTrashDocument,
       })
     }
     dataToSave = await beforeSync({
@@ -157,6 +162,26 @@ export const syncDocAsSearchIndex = async ({
               payload.logger.error({ err, msg: `Error updating ${searchSlug} document.` })
             }
           }
+
+          // Check if document is trashed and delete from search
+          const isTrashDocument = doc && 'deletedAt' in doc && doc.deletedAt
+
+          if (isTrashDocument) {
+            try {
+              await payload.delete({
+                id: searchDocID,
+                collection: searchSlug,
+                depth: 0,
+                req,
+              })
+            } catch (err: unknown) {
+              payload.logger.error({
+                err,
+                msg: `Error deleting ${searchSlug} document for trashed doc.`,
+              })
+            }
+          }
+
           if (deleteDrafts && status === 'draft') {
             // Check to see if there's a published version of the doc
             // We don't want to remove the search doc if there is a published version but a new draft has been created
@@ -186,7 +211,7 @@ export const syncDocAsSearchIndex = async ({
               },
             })
 
-            if (!docWithPublish) {
+            if (!docWithPublish && !isTrashDocument) {
               // do not include draft docs in search results, so delete the record
               try {
                 await payload.delete({
diff --git a/test/plugin-search/collections/Posts.ts b/test/plugin-search/collections/Posts.ts
index e653688b6..a232f427d 100644
--- a/test/plugin-search/collections/Posts.ts
+++ b/test/plugin-search/collections/Posts.ts
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ export const Posts: CollectionConfig = {
   admin: {
     useAsTitle: 'title',
   },
+  trash: true,
   versions: {
     drafts: true,
   },
diff --git a/test/plugin-search/int.spec.ts b/test/plugin-search/int.spec.ts
index 80e2a6e5b..e3ad05922 100644
--- a/test/plugin-search/int.spec.ts
+++ b/test/plugin-search/int.spec.ts
@@ -534,4 +534,67 @@ describe('@payloadcms/plugin-search', () => {
 
     expect(totalAfterReindex).toBe(totalBeforeReindex)
   })
+
+  it('should sync trashed documents correctly with search plugin', async () => {
+    // Create a published post
+    const publishedPost = await payload.create({
+      collection: postsSlug,
+      data: {
+        title: 'Post to be trashed',
+        excerpt: 'This post will be soft deleted',
+        _status: 'published',
+      },
+    })
+
+    // Wait for the search document to be created
+    await wait(200)
+
+    // Verify the search document was created
+    const { docs: initialSearchResults } = await payload.find({
+      collection: 'search',
+      depth: 0,
+      where: {
+        'doc.value': {
+          equals: publishedPost.id,
+        },
+      },
+    })
+
+    expect(initialSearchResults).toHaveLength(1)
+    expect(initialSearchResults[0]?.title).toBe('Post to be trashed')
+
+    // Soft delete the post (move to trash)
+    await payload.update({
+      collection: postsSlug,
+      id: publishedPost.id,
+      data: {
+        deletedAt: new Date().toISOString(),
+      },
+    })
+
+    // Wait for the search plugin to sync the trashed document
+    await wait(200)
+
+    // Verify the search document still exists but is properly synced
+    // The search document should remain and be updated correctly
+    const { docs: trashedSearchResults } = await payload.find({
+      collection: 'search',
+      depth: 0,
+      where: {
+        'doc.value': {
+          equals: publishedPost.id,
+        },
+      },
+    })
+
+    // The search document should still exist
+    expect(trashedSearchResults).toHaveLength(0)
+
+    // Clean up by permanently deleting the trashed post
+    await payload.delete({
+      collection: postsSlug,
+      id: publishedPost.id,
+      trash: true, // permanently delete
+    })
+  })
 })
diff --git a/test/plugin-search/payload-types.ts b/test/plugin-search/payload-types.ts
index 7478e3766..9e5f3b6f8 100644
--- a/test/plugin-search/payload-types.ts
+++ b/test/plugin-search/payload-types.ts
@@ -168,6 +168,7 @@ export interface Post {
   slug?: string | null;
   updatedAt: string;
   createdAt: string;
+  deletedAt?: string | null;
   _status?: ('draft' | 'published') | null;
 }
 /**
@@ -336,6 +337,7 @@ export interface PostsSelect<T extends boolean = true> {
   slug?: T;
   updatedAt?: T;
   createdAt?: T;
+  deletedAt?: T;
   _status?: T;
 }
 /**