diff --git a/src/egressweave/decision_evidence.py b/src/egressweave/decision_evidence.py
index b6edddb..198063c 100644
--- a/src/egressweave/decision_evidence.py
+++ b/src/egressweave/decision_evidence.py
@@ -91,14 +91,15 @@ def _policy_fingerprint(policy: EgressPolicy) -> str:
     return _sha256_canonical_json(payload)
 
 
-@dataclass(frozen=True)
+@dataclass(frozen=True, init=False)
 class EgressDecisionEvidence:
     """Immutable audit evidence for one successfully authorized authority.
 
-    The record intentionally omits the request path and every resolved address.
-    Fingerprints are deterministic correlation values, not signatures or message
-    authentication codes, and must not be treated as proof against a process
-    that can execute arbitrary Python code.
+    The supported issuance path is :func:`build_egress_decision_evidence`, which
+    revalidates signed URL state before creating a record. The record deliberately
+    omits the request path and every resolved address. Fingerprints are deterministic
+    correlation values, not signatures or message authentication codes, and must not
+    be treated as proof against a process that can execute arbitrary Python code.
     """
 
     schema_version: str
@@ -110,6 +111,13 @@ class EgressDecisionEvidence:
     policy_fingerprint: str
     decision_fingerprint: str
 
+    def __init__(self, *args: object, **kwargs: object) -> None:
+        """Reject every direct construction shape in favor of the validating builder."""
+        del args, kwargs
+        raise TypeError(
+            "EgressDecisionEvidence objects must come from the evidence builder"
+        )
+
     def as_dict(self) -> dict[str, object]:
         """Return a detached JSON-compatible representation of this evidence."""
         return {
@@ -124,6 +132,30 @@ def as_dict(self) -> dict[str, object]:
         }
 
 
+def _make_egress_decision_evidence(
+    *,
+    schema_version: str,
+    authority: str,
+    allowed_methods: tuple[str, ...],
+    address_count: int,
+    ipv4_address_count: int,
+    ipv6_address_count: int,
+    policy_fingerprint: str,
+    decision_fingerprint: str,
+) -> EgressDecisionEvidence:
+    """Create one record only after the public builder completes revalidation."""
+    evidence = object.__new__(EgressDecisionEvidence)
+    object.__setattr__(evidence, "schema_version", schema_version)
+    object.__setattr__(evidence, "authority", authority)
+    object.__setattr__(evidence, "allowed_methods", allowed_methods)
+    object.__setattr__(evidence, "address_count", address_count)
+    object.__setattr__(evidence, "ipv4_address_count", ipv4_address_count)
+    object.__setattr__(evidence, "ipv6_address_count", ipv6_address_count)
+    object.__setattr__(evidence, "policy_fingerprint", policy_fingerprint)
+    object.__setattr__(evidence, "decision_fingerprint", decision_fingerprint)
+    return evidence
+
+
 def build_egress_decision_evidence(
     validated: ValidatedEgressURL,
     *,
@@ -151,7 +183,7 @@ def build_egress_decision_evidence(
         "policy_fingerprint": policy_digest,
     }
     decision_digest = _sha256_canonical_json(evidence_payload)
-    return EgressDecisionEvidence(
+    return _make_egress_decision_evidence(
         schema_version=DECISION_EVIDENCE_SCHEMA_VERSION,
         authority=str(evidence_payload["authority"]),
         allowed_methods=tuple(sorted(policy.allowed_methods)),
diff --git a/tests/test_decision_evidence_factory_only.py b/tests/test_decision_evidence_factory_only.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..940ed38
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/test_decision_evidence_factory_only.py
@@ -0,0 +1,32 @@
+"""Regression tests for builder-issued decision evidence."""
+
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+import pytest
+
+from egressweave import EgressDecisionEvidence
+
+_DIRECT_CONSTRUCTION_ERROR = (
+    "EgressDecisionEvidence objects must come from the evidence builder"
+)
+
+
+def test_decision_evidence_rejects_direct_public_construction() -> None:
+    """Require decision evidence to come from the validating builder."""
+    with pytest.raises(TypeError, match=_DIRECT_CONSTRUCTION_ERROR):
+        EgressDecisionEvidence(
+            schema_version="egressweave.decision-evidence.v1",
+            authority="api.example.com:443",
+            allowed_methods=("GET",),
+            address_count=1,
+            ipv4_address_count=1,
+            ipv6_address_count=0,
+            policy_fingerprint="0" * 64,
+            decision_fingerprint="1" * 64,
+        )
+
+
+def test_decision_evidence_rejects_empty_direct_construction_consistently() -> None:
+    """Keep the intentional factory-only error for argument-shape mistakes."""
+    with pytest.raises(TypeError, match=_DIRECT_CONSTRUCTION_ERROR):
+        EgressDecisionEvidence()