diff --git a/src/crud/representation.py b/src/crud/representation.py
index 83f0617a..ca246bef 100644
--- a/src/crud/representation.py
+++ b/src/crud/representation.py
@@ -366,6 +366,7 @@ class RepresentationManager:
                 models.Document.workspace_name == self.workspace_name,
                 models.Document.observer == self.observer,
                 models.Document.observed == self.observed,
+                models.Document.deleted_at.is_(None),
                 *(
                     [models.Document.session_name == session_name]
                     if session_name is not None
@@ -391,6 +392,7 @@ class RepresentationManager:
                 models.Document.workspace_name == self.workspace_name,
                 models.Document.observer == self.observer,
                 models.Document.observed == self.observed,
+                models.Document.deleted_at.is_(None),
             )
             .order_by(models.Document.times_derived.desc())
         )
diff --git a/tests/crud/test_representation_manager.py b/tests/crud/test_representation_manager.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..e4c46853
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/crud/test_representation_manager.py
@@ -0,0 +1,136 @@
+import pytest
+from nanoid import generate as generate_nanoid
+from sqlalchemy import func, update
+from sqlalchemy.ext.asyncio import AsyncSession
+
+from src import models
+from src.crud.representation import RepresentationManager
+
+
+class TestRepresentationManagerSoftDelete:
+    """Tests that RepresentationManager query methods exclude soft-deleted documents."""
+
+    async def _setup(
+        self,
+        db_session: AsyncSession,
+        test_workspace: models.Workspace,
+        test_peer: models.Peer,
+    ) -> tuple[models.Peer, models.Session, models.Collection, RepresentationManager]:
+        """Create peers, session, collection, and a RepresentationManager."""
+        test_peer2 = models.Peer(
+            name=str(generate_nanoid()), workspace_name=test_workspace.name
+        )
+        db_session.add(test_peer2)
+        await db_session.flush()
+
+        test_session = models.Session(
+            name=str(generate_nanoid()), workspace_name=test_workspace.name
+        )
+        db_session.add(test_session)
+        await db_session.flush()
+
+        collection = models.Collection(
+            workspace_name=test_workspace.name,
+            observer=test_peer.name,
+            observed=test_peer2.name,
+        )
+        db_session.add(collection)
+        await db_session.flush()
+
+        manager = RepresentationManager(
+            test_workspace.name,
+            observer=test_peer.name,
+            observed=test_peer2.name,
+        )
+
+        return test_peer2, test_session, collection, manager
+
+    @pytest.mark.asyncio
+    async def test_query_documents_recent_excludes_soft_deleted(
+        self,
+        db_session: AsyncSession,
+        sample_data: tuple[models.Workspace, models.Peer],
+    ):
+        """Soft-deleted documents must not appear in the recent-documents query."""
+        test_workspace, test_peer = sample_data
+        test_peer2, test_session, _, manager = await self._setup(
+            db_session, test_workspace, test_peer
+        )
+
+        # Create two documents
+        doc_live = models.Document(
+            workspace_name=test_workspace.name,
+            observer=test_peer.name,
+            observed=test_peer2.name,
+            content="Live observation",
+            session_name=test_session.name,
+        )
+        doc_deleted = models.Document(
+            workspace_name=test_workspace.name,
+            observer=test_peer.name,
+            observed=test_peer2.name,
+            content="Deleted observation",
+            session_name=test_session.name,
+        )
+        db_session.add_all([doc_live, doc_deleted])
+        await db_session.flush()
+
+        # Soft-delete one
+        await db_session.execute(
+            update(models.Document)
+            .where(models.Document.id == doc_deleted.id)
+            .values(deleted_at=func.now())
+        )
+        await db_session.commit()
+
+        results = await manager._query_documents_recent(db_session, top_k=10)  # pyright: ignore[reportPrivateUsage]
+
+        result_ids = [doc.id for doc in results]
+        assert doc_live.id in result_ids
+        assert doc_deleted.id not in result_ids
+
+    @pytest.mark.asyncio
+    async def test_query_documents_most_derived_excludes_soft_deleted(
+        self,
+        db_session: AsyncSession,
+        sample_data: tuple[models.Workspace, models.Peer],
+    ):
+        """Soft-deleted documents must not appear in the most-derived query."""
+        test_workspace, test_peer = sample_data
+        test_peer2, test_session, _, manager = await self._setup(
+            db_session, test_workspace, test_peer
+        )
+
+        # Create two documents with different times_derived
+        doc_live = models.Document(
+            workspace_name=test_workspace.name,
+            observer=test_peer.name,
+            observed=test_peer2.name,
+            content="Live observation",
+            session_name=test_session.name,
+            times_derived=5,
+        )
+        doc_deleted = models.Document(
+            workspace_name=test_workspace.name,
+            observer=test_peer.name,
+            observed=test_peer2.name,
+            content="Deleted high-derived observation",
+            session_name=test_session.name,
+            times_derived=100,
+        )
+        db_session.add_all([doc_live, doc_deleted])
+        await db_session.flush()
+
+        # Soft-delete the high-derived one
+        await db_session.execute(
+            update(models.Document)
+            .where(models.Document.id == doc_deleted.id)
+            .values(deleted_at=func.now())
+        )
+        await db_session.commit()
+
+        results = await manager._query_documents_most_derived(db_session, top_k=10)  # pyright: ignore[reportPrivateUsage]
+
+        result_ids = [doc.id for doc in results]
+        assert doc_live.id in result_ids
+        assert doc_deleted.id not in result_ids