diff --git a/docs/contracts/root-grant-read-contract_v0.1.md b/docs/contracts/root-grant-read-contract_v0.1.md
index 7e441e5..5862dd9 100644
--- a/docs/contracts/root-grant-read-contract_v0.1.md
+++ b/docs/contracts/root-grant-read-contract_v0.1.md
@@ -25,10 +25,24 @@ transport concurrency state, not the custody revision.
 
 user-engine reads through an authenticated exact-path read-only identity;
 separate attended human custody writes publish whole-document CAS updates.
-The actual user-engine runtime identity/auth binding, writer custody binding,
-bootstrap provenance and live acceptance are still owner delivery requirements.
+The runtime owner declarations now confirm namespace and ServiceAccount
+`user-engine` (`rapp-user-engine/manifests/runtime.yaml`). The reader admission
+uses role `user-engine-root-custody-reader` on existing `auth/kubernetes`,
+with a separate projected JWT audience `openbao`. Its short-lived OpenBao token
+has no default policy and only the exact document read. The flex-auth JWT and
+ESO credentials are separate and cannot substitute for this admission.
+
+The founder subsequently approved going forward with implementation and the
+approved delivery design. Actual admission, attended custody publication,
+bootstrap provenance and live acceptance remain owner execution requirements.
 The producer packet is `railiance-platform/openbao/root-grant/README.md`.
 
+user-engine retains its source/revision baseline atomically in its existing
+PostgreSQL store. Runtime starts with initial-baseline bootstrap disabled;
+controlled initialization must bind the authenticated owner read to retained
+publisher provenance. A database or OpenBao restore requires reconciliation
+against independently retained latest publication evidence before activation.
+
 ## Producer requirements (T05)
 
 The selected owner must implement these requirements in its own repository,
diff --git a/tools/custody-record/README.md b/tools/custody-record/README.md
index 716c787..e399a35 100644
--- a/tools/custody-record/README.md
+++ b/tools/custody-record/README.md
@@ -16,6 +16,8 @@ a removed entry is not a revocation), and secret-looking values.
 `observe_root_grant` is the consumer rule from ADR-0017 section 3: a grant only
 for tenant `platform`, from a valid record read at most 15 minutes ago,
 otherwise no grant (fail closed).
+Observations include `expires_at`, derived from the actual read time and the
+record's cache bound, so downstream consumers can honor bounds below 900 seconds.
 
 Pass the last trusted document as `previous_record` to `observe_root_grant`
 to reject rollback or same-revision mutation. New custody actions cannot be
diff --git a/tools/custody-record/tests/test_custody_record.py b/tools/custody-record/tests/test_custody_record.py
index 917148a..5755dec 100644
--- a/tools/custody-record/tests/test_custody_record.py
+++ b/tools/custody-record/tests/test_custody_record.py
@@ -152,7 +152,8 @@ class ObservationTests(unittest.TestCase):
         self.assertEqual(observation["grant"]["scope_id"], "platform")
         self.assertEqual(observation["grant"]["relation"], "platform-root-custodian")
         self.assertEqual(observation["source"], {"record_id": "nk-custody:platform-root", "revision": 1})
-        self.assertEqual(set(observation), {"subject", "grant", "source", "observed_at"})
+        self.assertEqual(set(observation), {"subject", "grant", "source", "observed_at", "expires_at"})
+        self.assertEqual(observation["expires_at"], "2026-10-03T09:15:00Z")
 
     def test_fail_closed_cases(self) -> None:
         grant = load("valid/grant.json")
@@ -175,7 +176,11 @@ class ObservationTests(unittest.TestCase):
         self.assertIsNotNone(self.observe(load("valid/supersession.json"), subject=KING_2))
         tighter = copy.deepcopy(load("valid/grant.json"))
         tighter["freshness"]["max_cache_seconds"] = 60
+        self.assertEqual(self.observe(tighter)["expires_at"], "2026-10-03T09:01:00Z")
         self.assertIsNone(self.observe(tighter, age=61))
+        tighter["freshness"]["max_cache_seconds"] = 0
+        self.assertEqual(self.observe(tighter)["expires_at"], "2026-10-03T09:00:00Z")
+        self.assertIsNone(self.observe(tighter, age=1))
 
 
 class CommandLineTests(unittest.TestCase):
diff --git a/tools/custody-record/validate.py b/tools/custody-record/validate.py
index ad12fb2..b1a2c79 100644
--- a/tools/custody-record/validate.py
+++ b/tools/custody-record/validate.py
@@ -202,6 +202,7 @@ def observe_root_grant(
                 "grant": dict(entry["grant"]),
                 "source": {"record_id": record["record_id"], "revision": record["revision"]},
                 "observed_at": read_at.isoformat().replace("+00:00", "Z"),
+                "expires_at": (read_at + dt.timedelta(seconds=bound)).isoformat().replace("+00:00", "Z"),
             }
     return None
 
diff --git a/workplans/NK-WP-0045-root-grant-custody-record.md b/workplans/NK-WP-0045-root-grant-custody-record.md
index 77811ac..bd4ccb1 100644
--- a/workplans/NK-WP-0045-root-grant-custody-record.md
+++ b/workplans/NK-WP-0045-root-grant-custody-record.md
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ type: workplan
 title: "Make the platform-root custody record readable as a non-secret root-grant fact"
 domain: infotech
 repo: net-kingdom
-status: blocked
+status: active
 flavor: implementation
 owner: claude-code
 topic_slug: netkingdom
@@ -14,11 +14,12 @@ related: [NK-ADR-0017, NK-WP-0042]
 state_hub_workstream_id: "43fbb1aa-b711-5792-b72b-07cd93ca8f45"
 ---
 
-NK-ADR-0017 makes the platform-root custody record the authority for the root
-grant, but the record has no machine-readable, non-secret form a workload can
-read. Until it does, user-engine returns "no root grant" and USER-WP-0037-T02
-stays blocked. This workplan defines that form and its read surface. It does
-not change custody itself, and no secret material enters the record.
+Accepted NK-ADR-0017 makes the platform-root custody record the authority for
+the root grant. The non-secret schema/validator and OpenBao delivery design are
+complete and approved; owner implementation is progressing. Live delivery and
+user-engine acceptance remain T05/T06. Until those receipts exist, consumers
+return no root grant. This work does not assign a custodian from directory or
+claim projections, and no secret material enters the record.
 
 ## Accept ADR-0017
 
@@ -114,7 +115,7 @@ answer fixes T05.
 
 ```task
 id: NK-WP-0045-T05
-status: wait
+status: progress
 depends_on: [NK-WP-0045-T04, RPF-WP-0049-T05]
 wait_kind: dependency
 blocked_on: message-from:railiance-platform
@@ -150,7 +151,7 @@ Tell user-engine the read path is live so USER-WP-0037-T02 can derive
 - user-engine derives the root grant without inferring it from claims.
 
 
-## Implementation and dependency review — 2026-10-03
+## Initial implementation review, before founder approval — 2026-10-03
 
 Local implementation is complete for the current draft. Workplan moved to
 `blocked`: T01/T04 require the founder's open decision; T05 needs the selected
@@ -215,3 +216,27 @@ Knowledge reload: package 0.2.3 digest
 start/decisions cards withheld due to changed informed-decision source. Reviewed
 current informed-decision README and owner guidance directly. This approval is
 recorded from the human instruction, not inferred from situational knowledge.
+
+
+## Go-forward implementation — 2026-10-03
+
+Bernd subsequently approved: “Good, i approve go forward please.” Continuing
+implementation and the bounded approved delivery design is authorized; do not
+request ADR, surface or generic go-forward approval again. Plan temporarily
+active while owner implementation progresses; T05 in progress. Missing facts
+and an attended OIDC/MFA handoff remain execution conditions, not a request to
+repeat the approval.
+
+Delegated source ownership: railiance-platform producer/executor and admission;
+user-engine authenticated transport, durable baseline and runtime mapping;
+rapp-user-engine deployment packaging and dedicated projected JWT. Confirmed
+consumer owner declarations in `rapp-user-engine/manifests/runtime.yaml` name
+namespace/Deployment/ServiceAccount `user-engine`, automount disabled and an
+existing flex-auth-only projection. OpenBao requires its separate audience.
+
+Custody evidence review: local bootstrap metadata records a temporary-single-
+king approval in May 2026 and a directory reference. The signed local escrow
+roster is `planned`, with planned identity references. Neither binds a current
+exact OIDC issuer/subject as a real root-grant ceremony record. Asked the founder
+for only the non-secret ceremony reference and exact issuer/subject; no grant
+will be inferred from directory/JWT projections or these historical records.