diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 8774b1e..51862c3 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -418,7 +418,7 @@ const fragments = await verifyDocument(signedBoeVc, {
 isObligationRecord(signedBoeVc); // true when obligationRegistry is present
 ```
 
-After on-chain reject, discharge, or `acceptReturnedObligationRegistry`, verify returns **INVALID** (token burned). See [§7c](#c-obligation-registry-boe) for the on-chain SDK.
+After on-chain **reject**, **discharge**, or **`acceptReturnedObligationRegistry`**, the token is burned (`0xdEaD`). Verify still treats the title as minted (same as classic ETR shredded titles); the website surfaces “Taken Out of Circulation”. See [§7c](#c-obligation-registry-boe) for the on-chain SDK.
 
 ---
 
@@ -780,11 +780,23 @@ For more information on Token Registry and Title Escrow contracts **version v5**
 
 **Lifecycle**
 
-Deploy factory + registry → Mint (Issued) → Accept (Accepted) / Reject (Rejected, auto-burn)
-  → Discharge (Discharged, auto-burn) | Transfers | Return to issuer → restore / burn
-```
+1. Deploy factory + obligation registry  
+2. Mint → status **Issued**  
+3. Holder **accept** → **Accepted**, or holder **reject** → **Rejected** (burns / takes out of circulation)  
+4. Optional transfers / nominate / endorse (same pattern as Title Escrow)  
+5. Beneficiary **discharge** (from **Accepted**) → **Discharged** (burns)  
+
+> [!NOTE]
+> **Return to issuer** uses the same rules as classic ETR: the caller must be both beneficiary and holder; then the issuer runs **accept-return** (burn) or **reject-return** (restore). Status does **not** need to be Rejected or Discharged first.
+
+**Role rules**
 
-**Role rules:** accept / reject / discharge require `beneficiary != holder`; `returnToIssuerObligationRegistry` requires dual role (`beneficiary == holder`).
+| Action | Who |
+|--------|-----|
+| `accept` / `reject` | Holder, with `beneficiary != holder` |
+| `discharge` | Beneficiary, with `beneficiary != holder` |
+| `returnToIssuerObligationRegistry` | Dual role (`beneficiary == holder`) — same as classic ETR `returnToIssuer` |
+| `acceptReturnedObligationRegistry` / `rejectReturnedObligationRegistry` | Issuer (registry accepter / restorer roles) |
 
 **Status enums** (from `@trustvc/trustvc`):
 
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index 99a2845..1f70626 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@
     "build": "npm run clean && tsup",
     "clean": "rm -rf dist/",
     "precommit": "lint-staged",
-    "prepare": "husky",
+    "prepare": "npm run build && husky",
     "release": "semantic-release --parallel=1 --repositoryUrl=https://github.com/TrustVC/trustvc.git --verbose"
   },
   "keywords": [
diff --git a/src/__tests__/verify/obligationRecordVerifier.utils.test.ts b/src/__tests__/verify/obligationRecordVerifier.utils.test.ts
index 36c6a06..d0a01e1 100644
--- a/src/__tests__/verify/obligationRecordVerifier.utils.test.ts
+++ b/src/__tests__/verify/obligationRecordVerifier.utils.test.ts
@@ -4,9 +4,6 @@ import { OpenAttestationEthereumTokenRegistryStatusCode } from '@tradetrust-tt/t
 import { isTokenMintedOnObligationRegistry } from '../../verify/fragments/document-status/obligationRecords/utils';
 
 const mockOwnerOf = vi.fn();
-const mockActive = vi.fn();
-const mockIsHoldingToken = vi.fn();
-const mockGetObligationEscrowAddress = vi.fn();
 
 vi.mock('@tradetrust-tt/token-registry-v5/contracts', () => ({
   TrustVCToken__factory: {
@@ -14,16 +11,6 @@ vi.mock('@tradetrust-tt/token-registry-v5/contracts', () => ({
       ownerOf: mockOwnerOf,
     })),
   },
-  ObligationEscrow__factory: {
-    connect: vi.fn(() => ({
-      active: mockActive,
-      isHoldingToken: mockIsHoldingToken,
-    })),
-  },
-}));
-
-vi.mock('../../core/endorsement-chain/obligation', () => ({
-  getObligationEscrowAddress: (...args: unknown[]) => mockGetObligationEscrowAddress(...args),
 }));
 
 describe('isTokenMintedOnObligationRegistry', () => {
@@ -35,13 +22,10 @@ describe('isTokenMintedOnObligationRegistry', () => {
 
   beforeEach(() => {
     vi.clearAllMocks();
-    mockGetObligationEscrowAddress.mockResolvedValue('0xEscrow');
     mockOwnerOf.mockResolvedValue('0xEscrow');
-    mockActive.mockResolvedValue(true);
-    mockIsHoldingToken.mockResolvedValue(true);
   });
 
-  it('returns minted when owner is set and title is live', async () => {
+  it('returns minted when owner is set (active title)', async () => {
     const result = await isTokenMintedOnObligationRegistry({
       obligationRegistryAddress,
       tokenId,
@@ -52,8 +36,8 @@ describe('isTokenMintedOnObligationRegistry', () => {
     expect(result).toEqual({ minted: true, address: obligationRegistryAddress });
   });
 
-  it('returns not minted when title is inactive or not holding', async () => {
-    mockIsHoldingToken.mockResolvedValue(false);
+  it('returns minted when owner is burn address (shredded, same as classic ETR)', async () => {
+    mockOwnerOf.mockResolvedValue('0x000000000000000000000000000000000000dEaD');
 
     const result = await isTokenMintedOnObligationRegistry({
       obligationRegistryAddress,
@@ -62,13 +46,7 @@ describe('isTokenMintedOnObligationRegistry', () => {
       chainId: 80002,
     });
 
-    expect(result.minted).toBe(false);
-    expect(result).toMatchObject({
-      reason: {
-        code: OpenAttestationEthereumTokenRegistryStatusCode.DOCUMENT_NOT_MINTED,
-        message: expect.stringContaining('title is not active'),
-      },
-    });
+    expect(result).toEqual({ minted: true, address: obligationRegistryAddress });
   });
 
   it('returns not minted when owner is zero address', async () => {
@@ -104,19 +82,5 @@ describe('isTokenMintedOnObligationRegistry', () => {
         message: 'Document has not been issued under token registry',
       },
     });
-    expect(mockGetObligationEscrowAddress).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
-  });
-
-  it('rethrows failures from escrow address / active / isHoldingToken calls', async () => {
-    mockGetObligationEscrowAddress.mockRejectedValue(new Error('RPC failed resolving escrow'));
-
-    await expect(
-      isTokenMintedOnObligationRegistry({
-        obligationRegistryAddress,
-        tokenId,
-        provider,
-        chainId: 80002,
-      }),
-    ).rejects.toThrow('RPC failed resolving escrow');
   });
 });
diff --git a/src/verify/fragments/document-status/obligationRecords/utils.ts b/src/verify/fragments/document-status/obligationRecords/utils.ts
index 5b480fa..cbd87c0 100644
--- a/src/verify/fragments/document-status/obligationRecords/utils.ts
+++ b/src/verify/fragments/document-status/obligationRecords/utils.ts
@@ -1,14 +1,10 @@
-import {
-  ObligationEscrow__factory,
-  TrustVCToken__factory,
-} from '@tradetrust-tt/token-registry-v5/contracts';
+import { TrustVCToken__factory } from '@tradetrust-tt/token-registry-v5/contracts';
 import {
   InvalidTokenRegistryStatus,
   OpenAttestationEthereumTokenRegistryStatusCode,
   ValidTokenRegistryStatus,
 } from '@tradetrust-tt/tt-verify';
 import { constants, providers } from 'ethers';
-import { getObligationEscrowAddress } from '../../../../core/endorsement-chain/obligation';
 import { decodeError, type EthersError } from '../transferableRecords/utils';
 
 const notMintedReason = (
@@ -30,6 +26,7 @@ const notMintedReason = (
   },
 });
 
+// Same minted semantics as classic ETR: ownerOf !== AddressZero (includes burn 0xdEaD).
 export const isTokenMintedOnObligationRegistry = async ({
   obligationRegistryAddress,
   tokenId,
@@ -75,32 +72,12 @@ export const isTokenMintedOnObligationRegistry = async ({
     if (!minted) {
       return notMintedReason(obligationRegistryAddress, tokenId);
     }
+
+    return { minted: true, address: obligationRegistryAddress };
   } catch (error: unknown) {
     // Only ownerOf absence / registry miss maps to DOCUMENT_NOT_MINTED.
     // CodedError (e.g. SERVER_ERROR) and unexpected reverts from decodeError propagate.
     const ethersError = error as EthersError;
     return notMintedReason(obligationRegistryAddress, tokenId, decodeError(ethersError));
   }
-
-  const obligationEscrowAddress = await getObligationEscrowAddress(
-    obligationRegistryAddress,
-    tokenId,
-    provider,
-    { titleEscrowVersion: 'v5' },
-  );
-  const obligationEscrow = ObligationEscrow__factory.connect(obligationEscrowAddress, provider);
-  const [active, isHoldingToken] = await Promise.all([
-    obligationEscrow.active(),
-    obligationEscrow.isHoldingToken(),
-  ]);
-
-  if (!active || !isHoldingToken) {
-    return notMintedReason(
-      obligationRegistryAddress,
-      tokenId,
-      `Document ${tokenId} title is not active under contract ${obligationRegistryAddress}`,
-    );
-  }
-
-  return { minted: true, address: obligationRegistryAddress };
 };