diff --git a/src/components/layout/MainContent.tsx b/src/components/layout/MainContent.tsx
index 5c41649..2b5b88b 100644
--- a/src/components/layout/MainContent.tsx
+++ b/src/components/layout/MainContent.tsx
@@ -66,6 +66,14 @@ const AccountLocksPage = lazyFeature(
   () => import('@/features/lock/AccountLocksPage'),
   (m) => m.AccountLocksPage,
 );
+const LegalHoldsPage = lazyFeature(
+  () => import('@/features/hold/LegalHoldsPage'),
+  (m) => m.LegalHoldsPage,
+);
+const HeldNotice = lazyFeature(
+  () => import('@/features/hold/HeldNotice'),
+  (m) => m.HeldNotice,
+);
 const AccountLockBanner = lazyFeature(
   () => import('@/features/lock/AccountLockBanner'),
   (m) => m.AccountLockBanner,
@@ -140,6 +148,9 @@ function renderView(schema: Schema | null, viewName?: string, id?: string, secti
     if (componentName === 'AccountLocks') {
       return <AccountLocksPage />;
     }
+    if (componentName === 'LegalHolds') {
+      return <LegalHoldsPage />;
+    }
     return (
       <div className="rounded-lg border border-dashed p-12 text-center text-muted-foreground">
         Unknown component: {componentName}
@@ -202,6 +213,7 @@ function renderView(schema: Schema | null, viewName?: string, id?: string, secti
     if (viewName === 'x:Account/User') {
       return (
         <div className="space-y-4">
+          <HeldNotice accountId={id} />
           <AccountLockBanner accountId={id} />
           {page}
         </div>
diff --git a/src/features/hold/HeldNotice.tsx b/src/features/hold/HeldNotice.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..8d47bdf
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/features/hold/HeldNotice.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,57 @@
+/*
+ * SPDX-FileCopyrightText: 2026 Coffey Labs
+ *
+ * SPDX-License-Identifier: AGPL-3.0-only
+ */
+
+/**
+ * INBUXA: on a person's account page, the legal holds covering it, by any
+ * route (audit-hold-lock spec, LH-14). Shown only to those who may see
+ * holds; everyone else, the account's owner included, sees nothing.
+ */
+
+import { useEffect, useState } from 'react';
+import { useTranslation } from 'react-i18next';
+import { Scale } from 'lucide-react';
+import { useAccountStore } from '@/stores/accountStore';
+import { fetchHoldsOn, HOLD_CHANGED, type LegalHold } from './legalHold';
+
+export function HeldNotice({ accountId }: { accountId: string }) {
+  const { t } = useTranslation();
+  const canGet = useAccountStore((s) => s.hasPermission('sysLegalHoldGet'));
+  const [holds, setHolds] = useState<LegalHold[]>([]);
+  const [fetches, setFetches] = useState(0);
+
+  useEffect(() => {
+    const refetch = () => setFetches((n) => n + 1);
+    window.addEventListener(HOLD_CHANGED, refetch);
+    return () => window.removeEventListener(HOLD_CHANGED, refetch);
+  }, []);
+
+  useEffect(() => {
+    if (!canGet) return;
+    const controller = new AbortController();
+    fetchHoldsOn(accountId, controller.signal)
+      .then((list) => {
+        if (!controller.signal.aborted) setHolds(list);
+      })
+      // An older server without holds: say nothing
+      .catch(() => undefined);
+    return () => controller.abort();
+  }, [accountId, canGet, fetches]);
+
+  if (!canGet || holds.length === 0) return null;
+  return (
+    <div className="flex items-start gap-3 rounded-xl border border-primary/40 bg-primary/5 p-4 text-sm">
+      <Scale className="mt-0.5 h-5 w-5 shrink-0 text-primary" />
+      <div className="space-y-1">
+        <p className="font-medium">
+          {t('hold.heldTitle', 'Held: nothing in this account can be destroyed, and deleting it keeps its data.')}
+        </p>
+        <p className="text-muted-foreground">
+          {holds.map((h) => (h.reference ? `${h.name} (${h.reference})` : h.name)).join(', ')}
+        </p>
+      </div>
+    </div>
+  );
+}
diff --git a/src/features/hold/HoldDialogs.tsx b/src/features/hold/HoldDialogs.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..66cc9d6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/features/hold/HoldDialogs.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,361 @@
+/*
+ * SPDX-FileCopyrightText: 2026 Coffey Labs
+ *
+ * SPDX-License-Identifier: AGPL-3.0-only
+ */
+
+/**
+ * INBUXA: placing, widening and releasing a legal hold (audit-hold-lock
+ * spec, LH-1, LH-3, LH-10). Every change needs a reason (AU-12); a release
+ * also needs the case name typed, since it lets things expire.
+ */
+
+import { useState } from 'react';
+import { useTranslation } from 'react-i18next';
+import { Loader2, Scale, Unlock, X } from 'lucide-react';
+import { Button } from '@/components/ui/button';
+import { Input } from '@/components/ui/input';
+import { Textarea } from '@/components/ui/textarea';
+import { Checkbox } from '@/components/ui/checkbox';
+import {
+  Dialog,
+  DialogContent,
+  DialogDescription,
+  DialogFooter,
+  DialogHeader,
+  DialogTitle,
+} from '@/components/ui/dialog';
+import { ObjectPicker } from '@/components/common/ObjectPicker';
+import { useObjectLabel } from '@/lib/objectOptions';
+import { useSchemaStore } from '@/stores/schemaStore';
+import { toast } from '@/hooks/use-toast';
+import {
+  draftProblem,
+  EMPTY_SCOPE,
+  narrowingProblem,
+  placeHold,
+  releaseHold,
+  updateHold,
+  type HoldDraft,
+  type HoldScope,
+  type LegalHold,
+} from './legalHold';
+
+type ScopeKind = 'accounts' | 'groups' | 'domains' | 'tenants';
+
+const PICKER_VIEW: Record<ScopeKind, string> = {
+  accounts: 'x:Account/User',
+  groups: 'x:Account/Group',
+  domains: 'x:Domain',
+  tenants: 'x:Tenant',
+};
+
+/** The object each kind's ids are labelled from. */
+const LABEL_OBJECT: Record<ScopeKind, string> = {
+  accounts: 'x:Account',
+  groups: 'x:Account',
+  domains: 'x:Domain',
+  tenants: 'x:Tenant',
+};
+
+function ScopeChip({ kind, id, onRemove }: { kind: ScopeKind; id: string; onRemove?: () => void }) {
+  const schema = useSchemaStore((s) => s.schema);
+  const { label } = useObjectLabel(LABEL_OBJECT[kind], id, schema!);
+  return (
+    <span className="inline-flex items-center gap-1 rounded-md bg-muted px-2 py-0.5 text-xs">
+      {label ?? id}
+      {onRemove && (
+        <button type="button" onClick={onRemove} className="text-muted-foreground hover:text-foreground">
+          <X className="h-3 w-3" />
+        </button>
+      )}
+    </span>
+  );
+}
+
+/** A hold's scope, read-only: the chips, or "the whole server". */
+export function ScopeSummary({ scope }: { scope: HoldScope }) {
+  const { t } = useTranslation();
+  if (scope.server) return <span className="text-sm">{t('hold.wholeServer', 'Every account on the server')}</span>;
+  const kinds: ScopeKind[] = ['accounts', 'groups', 'domains', 'tenants'];
+  return (
+    <div className="flex flex-wrap gap-1">
+      {kinds.flatMap((kind) => scope[kind].map((id) => <ScopeChip key={`${kind}-${id}`} kind={kind} id={id} />))}
+    </div>
+  );
+}
+
+function ScopeEditor({
+  scope,
+  locked,
+  onChange,
+}: {
+  scope: HoldScope;
+  /** Entries already held, which can't be taken out (LH-3). */
+  locked?: HoldScope;
+  onChange: (s: HoldScope) => void;
+}) {
+  const { t } = useTranslation();
+  const schema = useSchemaStore((s) => s.schema);
+  const rows: { kind: ScopeKind; label: string; placeholder: string }[] = [
+    { kind: 'accounts', label: t('hold.scope.accounts', 'People'), placeholder: t('hold.addAccount', 'Add a person') },
+    { kind: 'groups', label: t('hold.scope.groups', 'Groups'), placeholder: t('hold.addGroup', 'Add a group') },
+    { kind: 'domains', label: t('hold.scope.domains', 'Domains'), placeholder: t('hold.addDomain', 'Add a domain') },
+    { kind: 'tenants', label: t('hold.scope.tenants', 'Tenants'), placeholder: t('hold.addTenant', 'Add a tenant') },
+  ];
+  return (
+    <div className="space-y-3">
+      <label className="flex items-center gap-2 text-sm">
+        <Checkbox
+          checked={scope.server}
+          disabled={locked?.server}
+          onCheckedChange={(v) => onChange({ ...scope, server: v === true })}
+        />
+        {t('hold.wholeServer', 'Every account on the server')}
+      </label>
+      {!scope.server &&
+        schema &&
+        rows.map(({ kind, label, placeholder }) => (
+          <div key={kind} className="space-y-1 text-sm">
+            <div className="text-muted-foreground">{label}</div>
+            <div className="flex flex-wrap items-center gap-1">
+              {scope[kind].map((id) => (
+                <ScopeChip
+                  key={id}
+                  kind={kind}
+                  id={id}
+                  onRemove={
+                    locked?.[kind].includes(id)
+                      ? undefined
+                      : () => onChange({ ...scope, [kind]: scope[kind].filter((x) => x !== id) })
+                  }
+                />
+              ))}
+              <ObjectPicker
+                schema={schema}
+                objectName={PICKER_VIEW[kind]}
+                value=""
+                onChange={(id) => {
+                  if (id && !scope[kind].includes(id)) onChange({ ...scope, [kind]: [...scope[kind], id] });
+                }}
+                placeholder={placeholder}
+              />
+            </div>
+          </div>
+        ))}
+      <p className="text-xs text-muted-foreground">
+        {t(
+          'hold.scopeHint',
+          'Domains, groups and tenants count as they are now: an account added later is held, and one that leaves stays held.',
+        )}
+      </p>
+    </div>
+  );
+}
+
+function ReasonField({ value, onChange }: { value: string; onChange: (v: string) => void }) {
+  const { t } = useTranslation();
+  return (
+    <label className="block space-y-1 text-sm">
+      <span className="text-muted-foreground">{t('hold.reason', 'Reason')}</span>
+      <Textarea
+        value={value}
+        maxLength={500}
+        placeholder={t('hold.reasonHint', 'Why, for the audit log: counsel’s letter, a matter number…')}
+        onChange={(e) => onChange(e.target.value)}
+      />
+    </label>
+  );
+}
+
+function toDraft(hold?: LegalHold): HoldDraft {
+  return {
+    name: hold?.name ?? '',
+    reference: hold?.reference ?? '',
+    description: hold?.description ?? '',
+    scope: hold ? { ...hold.scope } : { ...EMPTY_SCOPE },
+    from: hold?.from ?? '',
+    to: hold?.to ?? '',
+  };
+}
+
+export function HoldDialog({
+  existing,
+  onClose,
+  onDone,
+}: {
+  existing?: LegalHold;
+  onClose: () => void;
+  onDone: () => void;
+}) {
+  const { t } = useTranslation();
+  const [draft, setDraft] = useState<HoldDraft>(() => toDraft(existing));
+  const [reason, setReason] = useState('');
+  const [busy, setBusy] = useState(false);
+  const problem = draftProblem(draft) ?? (existing ? narrowingProblem(existing, draft) : null);
+  const ready = !problem && reason.trim().length > 0;
+  const patch = (p: Partial<HoldDraft>) => setDraft((d) => ({ ...d, ...p }));
+
+  const save = async () => {
+    setBusy(true);
+    try {
+      if (existing) await updateHold(existing.id, draft, reason);
+      else await placeHold(draft, reason);
+      toast({
+        title: existing
+          ? t('hold.updated', 'Hold changed')
+          : t('hold.placed', 'Hold placed. What it covers can no longer be destroyed.'),
+      });
+      onDone();
+    } catch (e) {
+      toast({
+        variant: 'destructive',
+        title: existing ? t('hold.updateFailed', 'Nothing changed') : t('hold.placeFailed', 'The hold wasn’t placed'),
+        description: e instanceof Error ? e.message : String(e),
+      });
+    } finally {
+      setBusy(false);
+    }
+  };
+
+  return (
+    <Dialog open onOpenChange={(open) => !open && onClose()}>
+      <DialogContent className="max-h-[90vh] max-w-2xl overflow-y-auto">
+        <DialogHeader>
+          <DialogTitle>
+            {existing
+              ? t('hold.editTitle', 'Change {{name}}', { name: existing.name })
+              : t('hold.placeTitle', 'Place a legal hold')}
+          </DialogTitle>
+          <DialogDescription>
+            {existing
+              ? t(
+                  'hold.editBody',
+                  'A hold can grow, never shrink: more accounts, or a wider date range. To hold less, release it and place a new one.',
+                )
+              : t(
+                  'hold.placeBody',
+                  'Nothing it covers can be destroyed: deletions are kept in the archive with no expiry, by any user, delegate or administrator, and deleted accounts keep their data. People aren’t told.',
+                )}
+          </DialogDescription>
+        </DialogHeader>
+        <div className="space-y-4">
+          <div className="grid gap-3 sm:grid-cols-2">
+            <label className="block space-y-1 text-sm">
+              <span className="text-muted-foreground">{t('hold.name', 'Case name')}</span>
+              <Input value={draft.name} maxLength={500} onChange={(e) => patch({ name: e.target.value })} />
+            </label>
+            <label className="block space-y-1 text-sm">
+              <span className="text-muted-foreground">{t('hold.reference', 'Reference (optional)')}</span>
+              <Input
+                value={draft.reference}
+                maxLength={500}
+                placeholder={t('hold.referenceHint', 'Matter or ticket number')}
+                onChange={(e) => patch({ reference: e.target.value })}
+              />
+            </label>
+          </div>
+          <label className="block space-y-1 text-sm">
+            <span className="text-muted-foreground">{t('hold.description', 'Description (optional)')}</span>
+            <Textarea
+              value={draft.description}
+              maxLength={500}
+              onChange={(e) => patch({ description: e.target.value })}
+            />
+          </label>
+          <div className="space-y-2">
+            <div className="text-sm font-medium">{t('hold.covers', 'What it covers')}</div>
+            <ScopeEditor scope={draft.scope} locked={existing?.scope} onChange={(scope) => patch({ scope })} />
+          </div>
+          <div className="space-y-2">
+            <div className="text-sm font-medium">{t('hold.range', 'Dates (optional, UTC)')}</div>
+            <div className="grid gap-3 sm:grid-cols-2">
+              <label className="block space-y-1 text-sm">
+                <span className="text-muted-foreground">{t('hold.from', 'From')}</span>
+                <Input type="date" value={draft.from} onChange={(e) => patch({ from: e.target.value })} />
+              </label>
+              <label className="block space-y-1 text-sm">
+                <span className="text-muted-foreground">{t('hold.to', 'To')}</span>
+                <Input type="date" value={draft.to} onChange={(e) => patch({ to: e.target.value })} />
+              </label>
+            </div>
+            <p className="text-xs text-muted-foreground">
+              {t(
+                'hold.rangeHint',
+                'Leave both empty to hold everything. With dates, mail counts by when it arrived and events by when they start; contacts, files and filter scripts are held whole. Without an end, mail still to come is held too.',
+              )}
+            </p>
+          </div>
+          {problem && <p className="text-sm text-destructive">{problem}</p>}
+          <ReasonField value={reason} onChange={setReason} />
+        </div>
+        <DialogFooter>
+          <Button variant="ghost" onClick={onClose} disabled={busy}>
+            {t('hold.cancel', 'Cancel')}
+          </Button>
+          <Button onClick={() => void save()} disabled={busy || !ready}>
+            {busy ? <Loader2 className="mr-2 h-4 w-4 animate-spin" /> : !existing && <Scale className="mr-2 h-4 w-4" />}
+            {existing ? t('hold.save', 'Save') : t('hold.placeGo', 'Place hold')}
+          </Button>
+        </DialogFooter>
+      </DialogContent>
+    </Dialog>
+  );
+}
+
+export function ReleaseDialog({ hold, onClose, onDone }: { hold: LegalHold; onClose: () => void; onDone: () => void }) {
+  const { t } = useTranslation();
+  const [typed, setTyped] = useState('');
+  const [reason, setReason] = useState('');
+  const [busy, setBusy] = useState(false);
+  const ready = typed.trim() === hold.name.trim() && reason.trim().length > 0;
+
+  const run = async () => {
+    setBusy(true);
+    try {
+      await releaseHold(hold.id, reason);
+      toast({ title: t('hold.released', 'Hold released') });
+      onDone();
+    } catch (e) {
+      toast({
+        variant: 'destructive',
+        title: t('hold.releaseFailed', 'The hold is still in place'),
+        description: e instanceof Error ? e.message : String(e),
+      });
+    } finally {
+      setBusy(false);
+    }
+  };
+
+  return (
+    <Dialog open onOpenChange={(open) => !open && onClose()}>
+      <DialogContent>
+        <DialogHeader>
+          <DialogTitle>{t('hold.releaseTitle', 'Release {{name}}', { name: hold.name })}</DialogTitle>
+          <DialogDescription>
+            {t(
+              'hold.releaseBody',
+              'What only this hold kept gets its normal deadline back, and never less than 30 days from now, so a mistaken release can be undone by placing a new hold. Anything another hold covers stays held. A released hold stays listed, and can’t be put back.',
+            )}
+          </DialogDescription>
+        </DialogHeader>
+        <label className="block space-y-1 text-sm">
+          <span className="text-muted-foreground">
+            {t('hold.typeName', 'Type the case name to confirm: {{name}}', { name: hold.name })}
+          </span>
+          <Input value={typed} onChange={(e) => setTyped(e.target.value)} />
+        </label>
+        <ReasonField value={reason} onChange={setReason} />
+        <DialogFooter>
+          <Button variant="ghost" onClick={onClose} disabled={busy}>
+            {t('hold.cancel', 'Cancel')}
+          </Button>
+          <Button variant="destructive" onClick={() => void run()} disabled={busy || !ready}>
+            {busy ? <Loader2 className="mr-2 h-4 w-4 animate-spin" /> : <Unlock className="mr-2 h-4 w-4" />}
+            {t('hold.releaseGo', 'Release')}
+          </Button>
+        </DialogFooter>
+      </DialogContent>
+    </Dialog>
+  );
+}
diff --git a/src/features/hold/LegalHoldsPage.tsx b/src/features/hold/LegalHoldsPage.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e9d44d4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/features/hold/LegalHoldsPage.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,186 @@
+/*
+ * SPDX-FileCopyrightText: 2026 Coffey Labs
+ *
+ * SPDX-License-Identifier: AGPL-3.0-only
+ */
+
+/**
+ * INBUXA: Management › Compliance › Legal holds (audit-hold-lock spec, LH-1
+ * to LH-14). Active holds with what each covers and keeps; released ones
+ * stay listed, read-only, for the audit trail.
+ */
+
+import { useCallback, useEffect, useState } from 'react';
+import { useTranslation } from 'react-i18next';
+import { Pencil, Scale, Unlock } from 'lucide-react';
+import { Button } from '@/components/ui/button';
+import { Badge } from '@/components/ui/badge';
+import { PageHeader } from '@/components/common/PageHeader';
+import { LoadingFallback } from '@/components/common/LoadingFallback';
+import { useAccountStore } from '@/stores/accountStore';
+import { fetchHolds, formatSize, HOLD_CHANGED, HoldsUnavailable, type LegalHold } from './legalHold';
+import { HoldDialog, ReleaseDialog, ScopeSummary } from './HoldDialogs';
+
+type Load = { kind: 'loading' } | { kind: 'ready'; holds: LegalHold[] } | { kind: 'error'; message: string };
+
+function rangeText(t: (k: string, f: string, o?: Record<string, string>) => string, hold: LegalHold): string {
+  if (!hold.from && !hold.to) return t('hold.allDates', 'Everything, whatever its date');
+  if (hold.from && hold.to) return t('hold.between', '{{from}} to {{to}}', { from: hold.from, to: hold.to });
+  if (hold.from) return t('hold.since', 'From {{from}}, and mail still to come', { from: hold.from });
+  return t('hold.until', 'Up to {{to}}', { to: hold.to });
+}
+
+export function LegalHoldsPage() {
+  const { t } = useTranslation();
+  const canCreate = useAccountStore((s) => s.hasPermission('sysLegalHoldCreate'));
+  const canUpdate = useAccountStore((s) => s.hasPermission('sysLegalHoldUpdate'));
+  const [load, setLoad] = useState<Load>({ kind: 'loading' });
+  const [fetches, setFetches] = useState(0);
+  const [placing, setPlacing] = useState(false);
+  const [editing, setEditing] = useState<LegalHold | null>(null);
+  const [releasing, setReleasing] = useState<LegalHold | null>(null);
+  const refetch = useCallback(() => setFetches((n) => n + 1), []);
+
+  useEffect(() => {
+    const controller = new AbortController();
+    fetchHolds(controller.signal)
+      .then((holds) => {
+        if (!controller.signal.aborted) setLoad({ kind: 'ready', holds });
+      })
+      .catch((e: unknown) => {
+        if (controller.signal.aborted) return;
+        setLoad({
+          kind: 'error',
+          message:
+            e instanceof HoldsUnavailable
+              ? t('hold.unavailable', 'This server can’t place legal holds.')
+              : e instanceof Error
+                ? e.message
+                : String(e),
+        });
+      });
+    return () => controller.abort();
+  }, [fetches, t]);
+
+  const done = () => {
+    setPlacing(false);
+    setEditing(null);
+    setReleasing(null);
+    window.dispatchEvent(new Event(HOLD_CHANGED));
+    refetch();
+  };
+
+  const active = load.kind === 'ready' ? load.holds.filter((h) => !h.released) : [];
+  const released = load.kind === 'ready' ? load.holds.filter((h) => h.released) : [];
+
+  return (
+    <div className="mx-auto max-w-5xl space-y-5">
+      <PageHeader
+        icon="scale"
+        title={t('hold.title', 'Legal holds')}
+        subtitle={t(
+          'hold.subtitle',
+          'Nothing a hold covers can be destroyed, by anyone, until it is released: deletions are kept with no expiry and deleted accounts keep their data. People aren’t told.',
+        )}
+        actions={
+          canCreate && (
+            <Button onClick={() => setPlacing(true)}>
+              <Scale className="mr-2 h-4 w-4" />
+              {t('hold.placeAction', 'Place a hold…')}
+            </Button>
+          )
+        }
+      />
+
+      {load.kind === 'loading' && <LoadingFallback />}
+      {load.kind === 'error' && (
+        <div className="rounded-lg border border-dashed p-12 text-center text-muted-foreground">{load.message}</div>
+      )}
+      {load.kind === 'ready' && active.length === 0 && (
+        <div className="rounded-lg border border-dashed p-12 text-center text-muted-foreground">
+          {t('hold.none', 'No hold is in place.')}
+        </div>
+      )}
+      {active.map((hold) => (
+        <div key={hold.id} className="space-y-3 rounded-xl border bg-card p-4">
+          <div className="flex flex-wrap items-start justify-between gap-3">
+            <div className="min-w-0 space-y-1">
+              <div className="flex flex-wrap items-center gap-2 font-medium">
+                <Scale className="h-4 w-4 text-primary" />
+                {hold.name}
+                {hold.reference && <Badge variant="outline">{hold.reference}</Badge>}
+              </div>
+              <div className="text-sm text-muted-foreground">
+                {t('hold.placedBy', 'Placed {{when}} by {{who}}', {
+                  when: new Date(hold.placedAt).toLocaleString(),
+                  who: hold.placedBy,
+                })}
+              </div>
+              {hold.description && <div className="text-sm">{hold.description}</div>}
+            </div>
+            {canUpdate && (
+              <div className="flex gap-2">
+                <Button variant="outline" size="sm" onClick={() => setEditing(hold)}>
+                  <Pencil className="mr-2 h-4 w-4" />
+                  {t('hold.widenAction', 'Widen…')}
+                </Button>
+                <Button variant="outline" size="sm" onClick={() => setReleasing(hold)}>
+                  <Unlock className="mr-2 h-4 w-4" />
+                  {t('hold.releaseAction', 'Release…')}
+                </Button>
+              </div>
+            )}
+          </div>
+          <div className="grid gap-3 text-sm sm:grid-cols-2">
+            <div className="space-y-1">
+              <div className="text-muted-foreground">{t('hold.covers', 'What it covers')}</div>
+              <ScopeSummary scope={hold.scope} />
+              <div className="text-muted-foreground">{rangeText(t, hold)}</div>
+            </div>
+            <div className="space-y-1">
+              <div className="text-muted-foreground">{t('hold.keeps', 'What it keeps now')}</div>
+              <div>
+                {[
+                  hold.accountsCovered === 1
+                    ? t('hold.oneAccount', '1 account')
+                    : t('hold.accounts', '{{n}} accounts', { n: String(hold.accountsCovered ?? 0) }),
+                  hold.itemsHeld === 1
+                    ? t('hold.oneItem', '1 deleted item kept')
+                    : t('hold.items', '{{n}} deleted items kept', { n: String(hold.itemsHeld ?? 0) }),
+                  formatSize(hold.sizeHeld),
+                ].join(' · ')}
+              </div>
+            </div>
+          </div>
+        </div>
+      ))}
+
+      {released.length > 0 && (
+        <div className="space-y-2">
+          <h2 className="text-sm font-medium text-muted-foreground">{t('hold.releasedHeading', 'Released')}</h2>
+          {released.map((hold) => (
+            <div key={hold.id} className="rounded-xl border p-4 text-sm text-muted-foreground">
+              <div className="flex flex-wrap items-center gap-2 font-medium text-foreground">
+                {hold.name}
+                {hold.reference && <Badge variant="outline">{hold.reference}</Badge>}
+              </div>
+              <div>
+                {t('hold.releasedBy', 'Placed {{placed}} by {{placedBy}}; released {{when}} by {{who}}: {{why}}', {
+                  placed: new Date(hold.placedAt).toLocaleDateString(),
+                  placedBy: hold.placedBy,
+                  when: hold.releasedAt ? new Date(hold.releasedAt).toLocaleString() : '',
+                  who: hold.releasedBy ?? '',
+                  why: hold.releaseReason ?? '',
+                })}
+              </div>
+            </div>
+          ))}
+        </div>
+      )}
+
+      {placing && <HoldDialog onClose={() => setPlacing(false)} onDone={done} />}
+      {editing && <HoldDialog existing={editing} onClose={() => setEditing(null)} onDone={done} />}
+      {releasing && <ReleaseDialog hold={releasing} onClose={() => setReleasing(null)} onDone={done} />}
+    </div>
+  );
+}
diff --git a/src/features/hold/legalHold.test.ts b/src/features/hold/legalHold.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f7e428a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/features/hold/legalHold.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,81 @@
+/*
+ * SPDX-FileCopyrightText: 2026 Coffey Labs
+ *
+ * SPDX-License-Identifier: AGPL-3.0-only
+ */
+
+import { describe, expect, it } from 'vitest';
+import {
+  dayFromServer,
+  draftProblem,
+  EMPTY_SCOPE,
+  formatSize,
+  fromToServer,
+  narrowingProblem,
+  toToServer,
+  type HoldDraft,
+  type LegalHold,
+} from './legalHold';
+
+const draft = (patch: Partial<HoldDraft> = {}): HoldDraft => ({
+  name: 'Matter 4411',
+  reference: '',
+  description: '',
+  scope: { ...EMPTY_SCOPE, accounts: ['b'] },
+  from: '',
+  to: '',
+  ...patch,
+});
+
+const hold = (patch: Partial<LegalHold> = {}): LegalHold => ({
+  id: 'a',
+  name: 'Matter 4411',
+  reference: '',
+  description: '',
+  scope: { ...EMPTY_SCOPE, accounts: ['b'], domains: ['d'] },
+  from: '2026-01-01',
+  to: '2026-06-30',
+  placedAt: '2026-09-27T00:00:00Z',
+  placedBy: 'admin',
+  released: false,
+  releasedAt: null,
+  releasedBy: null,
+  releaseReason: null,
+  ...patch,
+});
+
+describe('legal hold drafts', () => {
+  it('needs a name, a scope and a forward range', () => {
+    expect(draftProblem(draft())).toBeNull();
+    expect(draftProblem(draft({ name: ' ' }))).toMatch(/name/);
+    expect(draftProblem(draft({ scope: { ...EMPTY_SCOPE } }))).toMatch(/covers/);
+    expect(draftProblem(draft({ scope: { ...EMPTY_SCOPE, server: true } }))).toBeNull();
+    expect(draftProblem(draft({ from: '2026-02-01', to: '2026-01-01' }))).toMatch(/after/);
+  });
+
+  it('only widens (LH-3)', () => {
+    const current = hold();
+    const same = { ...draft(), scope: { ...current.scope }, from: current.from, to: current.to };
+    expect(narrowingProblem(current, same)).toBeNull();
+    expect(narrowingProblem(current, { ...same, from: '2025-01-01', to: '' })).toBeNull();
+    expect(narrowingProblem(current, { ...same, from: '2026-03-01' })).toMatch(/widened/);
+    expect(narrowingProblem(current, { ...same, to: '2026-05-01' })).toMatch(/widened/);
+    expect(narrowingProblem(current, { ...same, scope: { ...current.scope, domains: [] } })).toMatch(/taken out/);
+    expect(narrowingProblem(hold({ from: '', to: '' }), { ...same, from: '2026-01-01' })).toMatch(/widened/);
+  });
+
+  it('sends whole UTC days', () => {
+    expect(fromToServer('2026-01-01')).toBe('2026-01-01T00:00:00Z');
+    expect(toToServer('2026-06-30')).toBe('2026-06-30T23:59:59Z');
+    expect(fromToServer('')).toBeNull();
+    expect(dayFromServer('2026-06-30T23:59:59Z')).toBe('2026-06-30');
+    expect(dayFromServer(null)).toBe('');
+  });
+
+  it('shows sizes as people read them', () => {
+    expect(formatSize(0)).toBe('0 B');
+    expect(formatSize(512)).toBe('512 B');
+    expect(formatSize(1536)).toBe('1.5 KB');
+    expect(formatSize(20 * 1024 * 1024)).toBe('20 MB');
+  });
+});
diff --git a/src/features/hold/legalHold.ts b/src/features/hold/legalHold.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..0d7e4d0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/features/hold/legalHold.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,263 @@
+/*
+ * SPDX-FileCopyrightText: 2026 Coffey Labs
+ *
+ * SPDX-License-Identifier: AGPL-3.0-only
+ */
+
+/**
+ * INBUXA: `inbuxa:LegalHold` over JMAP (audit-hold-lock spec, LH-1 to
+ * LH-14). A hold names a case and what it covers; its range and scope only
+ * widen, releasing it is final, and it is never deleted. Every change says
+ * why (AU-12). Only server administrators reach it (LH-13).
+ */
+
+import { getAccountId, jmapRequest } from '@/services/jmap/client';
+
+const CAPABILITY = 'urn:inbuxa:jmap';
+const OBJECT = 'inbuxa:LegalHold';
+
+/** Fired on window after a hold changes, so every view of holds refreshes. */
+export const HOLD_CHANGED = 'inbuxa:hold-changed';
+
+export interface HoldScope {
+  server: boolean;
+  accounts: string[];
+  groups: string[];
+  domains: string[];
+  tenants: string[];
+}
+
+export interface LegalHold {
+  id: string;
+  name: string;
+  reference: string;
+  description: string;
+  scope: HoldScope;
+  /** `yyyy-mm-dd`, UTC; empty for an open start. */
+  from: string;
+  /** `yyyy-mm-dd`, UTC; empty for an open end. */
+  to: string;
+  placedAt: string;
+  placedBy: string;
+  released: boolean;
+  releasedAt: string | null;
+  releasedBy: string | null;
+  releaseReason: string | null;
+  /** What it keeps (LH-9), when asked for. */
+  accountsCovered?: number;
+  itemsHeld?: number;
+  sizeHeld?: number;
+}
+
+/** A hold's editable parts, as the form holds them. */
+export interface HoldDraft {
+  name: string;
+  reference: string;
+  description: string;
+  scope: HoldScope;
+  from: string;
+  to: string;
+}
+
+export const EMPTY_SCOPE: HoldScope = { server: false, accounts: [], groups: [], domains: [], tenants: [] };
+
+/** The server doesn't offer holds (an older server). */
+export class HoldsUnavailable extends Error {
+  constructor(reason: string) {
+    super(`Legal holds unavailable: ${reason}`);
+  }
+}
+
+function methodError(name: string | undefined, result: unknown): Error {
+  const r = result as { type?: string; description?: string } | undefined;
+  if (r?.type === 'unknownMethod' || r?.type === 'unknownCapability') return new HoldsUnavailable(r.type);
+  return new Error(r?.description ?? r?.type ?? `${name ?? 'Request'} failed`);
+}
+
+function setError(result: unknown, bucket: string, key: string): Error | null {
+  const failed = (result as Record<string, Record<string, { description?: string; type?: string }> | undefined>)[
+    bucket
+  ]?.[key];
+  return failed ? new Error(failed.description ?? failed.type ?? 'Not saved') : null;
+}
+
+/** A day as the form holds it, as the start of that day in UTC. */
+export function fromToServer(day: string): string | null {
+  return day ? `${day}T00:00:00Z` : null;
+}
+
+/** A day as the form holds it, as the end of that day in UTC. */
+export function toToServer(day: string): string | null {
+  return day ? `${day}T23:59:59Z` : null;
+}
+
+/** A server date as the form's `yyyy-mm-dd`, UTC. */
+export function dayFromServer(value: unknown): string {
+  return typeof value === 'string' && /^\d{4}-\d{2}-\d{2}/.test(value) ? value.slice(0, 10) : '';
+}
+
+const ids = (value: unknown): string[] => (Array.isArray(value) ? value.filter((v) => typeof v === 'string') : []);
+const text = (value: unknown): string => (typeof value === 'string' ? value : '');
+const count = (value: unknown): number | undefined => (typeof value === 'number' ? value : undefined);
+
+function fromServer(item: Record<string, unknown>): LegalHold {
+  const scope = (item.scope ?? {}) as Record<string, unknown>;
+  return {
+    id: text(item.id),
+    name: text(item.name),
+    reference: text(item.reference),
+    description: text(item.description),
+    scope: {
+      server: scope.server === true,
+      accounts: ids(scope.accounts),
+      groups: ids(scope.groups),
+      domains: ids(scope.domains),
+      tenants: ids(scope.tenants),
+    },
+    from: dayFromServer(item.from),
+    to: dayFromServer(item.to),
+    placedAt: text(item.placedAt),
+    placedBy: text(item.placedBy),
+    released: item.released === true,
+    releasedAt: typeof item.releasedAt === 'string' ? item.releasedAt : null,
+    releasedBy: typeof item.releasedBy === 'string' ? item.releasedBy : null,
+    releaseReason: typeof item.releaseReason === 'string' ? item.releaseReason : null,
+    accountsCovered: count(item.accountsCovered),
+    itemsHeld: count(item.itemsHeld),
+    sizeHeld: count(item.sizeHeld),
+  };
+}
+
+const BASE_PROPERTIES = [
+  'id',
+  'name',
+  'reference',
+  'description',
+  'scope',
+  'from',
+  'to',
+  'placedAt',
+  'placedBy',
+  'released',
+  'releasedAt',
+  'releasedBy',
+  'releaseReason',
+];
+const SUMMARY_PROPERTIES = ['accountsCovered', 'itemsHeld', 'sizeHeld'];
+
+async function get(args: Record<string, unknown>, signal?: AbortSignal): Promise<LegalHold[]> {
+  const responses = await jmapRequest(
+    [[`${OBJECT}/get`, { accountId: getAccountId('x:Account'), ...args }, '0']],
+    signal,
+    [CAPABILITY],
+  );
+  const [name, result] = responses[0] ?? [];
+  if (name !== `${OBJECT}/get`) throw methodError(name, result);
+  return ((result as { list?: Record<string, unknown>[] }).list ?? []).map(fromServer);
+}
+
+/** Every hold, released ones included, with what each keeps (LH-9). */
+export function fetchHolds(signal?: AbortSignal): Promise<LegalHold[]> {
+  return get({ ids: null, properties: [...BASE_PROPERTIES, ...SUMMARY_PROPERTIES] }, signal);
+}
+
+/** The active holds covering one account, by any route (LH-14). */
+export function fetchHoldsOn(accountId: string, signal?: AbortSignal): Promise<LegalHold[]> {
+  return get({ coveringAccount: accountId, properties: ['id', 'name', 'reference'] }, signal);
+}
+
+function scopeToServer(scope: HoldScope): Record<string, unknown> {
+  return {
+    server: scope.server,
+    accounts: scope.accounts,
+    groups: scope.groups,
+    domains: scope.domains,
+    tenants: scope.tenants,
+  };
+}
+
+function draftToServer(draft: HoldDraft): Record<string, unknown> {
+  return {
+    name: draft.name.trim(),
+    reference: draft.reference.trim() || null,
+    description: draft.description.trim() || null,
+    scope: scopeToServer(draft.scope),
+    from: fromToServer(draft.from),
+    to: toToServer(draft.to),
+  };
+}
+
+/** What's wrong with a draft before it's sent, or null. */
+export function draftProblem(draft: HoldDraft): string | null {
+  if (!draft.name.trim()) return 'Give the case a name.';
+  const s = draft.scope;
+  if (!s.server && !s.accounts.length && !s.groups.length && !s.domains.length && !s.tenants.length) {
+    return 'Choose what the hold covers.';
+  }
+  if (draft.from && draft.to && draft.from > draft.to) return 'The range starts after it ends.';
+  return null;
+}
+
+/**
+ * What an edit would take away, which the server refuses (LH-3): a narrower
+ * range or anything out of the scope. Checked here so the form can say so
+ * before sending.
+ */
+export function narrowingProblem(current: LegalHold, draft: HoldDraft): string | null {
+  const from = (old: string, next: string) => (old ? !!next && next > old : !!next);
+  const to = (old: string, next: string) => (old ? !!next && next < old : !!next);
+  if (from(current.from, draft.from) || to(current.to, draft.to)) {
+    return 'The range can only be widened. To hold less, release this hold and place a new one.';
+  }
+  const kept = (old: string[], next: string[]) => old.every((id) => next.includes(id));
+  const s = current.scope;
+  const d = draft.scope;
+  if (
+    (s.server && !d.server) ||
+    !kept(s.accounts, d.accounts) ||
+    !kept(s.groups, d.groups) ||
+    !kept(s.domains, d.domains) ||
+    !kept(s.tenants, d.tenants)
+  ) {
+    return 'Nothing can be taken out of a hold. To hold less, release it and place a new one.';
+  }
+  return null;
+}
+
+async function set(args: Record<string, unknown>, bucket: string, key: string): Promise<string | undefined> {
+  const responses = await jmapRequest(
+    [[`${OBJECT}/set`, { accountId: getAccountId('x:Account'), ...args }, '0']],
+    undefined,
+    [CAPABILITY],
+  );
+  const [name, result] = responses[0] ?? [];
+  if (name !== `${OBJECT}/set`) throw methodError(name, result);
+  const failed = setError(result, bucket, key);
+  if (failed) throw failed;
+  return (result as { created?: Record<string, { id?: string }> }).created?.[key]?.id;
+}
+
+export async function placeHold(draft: HoldDraft, reason: string): Promise<string | undefined> {
+  return set({ create: { h: { ...draftToServer(draft), reason: reason.trim() } } }, 'notCreated', 'h');
+}
+
+export async function updateHold(id: string, draft: HoldDraft, reason: string): Promise<void> {
+  await set({ reason: reason.trim(), update: { [id]: draftToServer(draft) } }, 'notUpdated', id);
+}
+
+export async function releaseHold(id: string, reason: string): Promise<void> {
+  await set({ reason: reason.trim(), update: { [id]: { released: true } } }, 'notUpdated', id);
+}
+
+/** Bytes, as people read them. */
+export function formatSize(bytes: number | undefined): string {
+  if (!bytes) return '0 B';
+  const units = ['B', 'KB', 'MB', 'GB', 'TB'];
+  let value = bytes;
+  let unit = 0;
+  while (value >= 1024 && unit < units.length - 1) {
+    value /= 1024;
+    unit += 1;
+  }
+  return `${value < 10 && unit > 0 ? value.toFixed(1) : Math.round(value)} ${units[unit]}`;
+}
diff --git a/src/lib/layout.ts b/src/lib/layout.ts
index beec0f6..f2d7d7f 100644
--- a/src/lib/layout.ts
+++ b/src/lib/layout.ts
@@ -81,6 +81,11 @@ function checkSpecialLink(
     return { visible: canGet ? canGet('sysAudit') : true, enterprise: false };
   }
 
+  // inbuxa: legal holds, for server administrators who may see them (LH-13).
+  if (viewName === 'CustomComponent/LegalHolds') {
+    return { visible: canGet ? canGet('sysLegalHold') : true, enterprise: false };
+  }
+
   // inbuxa: locked accounts, for whoever may see them (AL-12).
   if (viewName === 'CustomComponent/AccountLocks') {
     return { visible: canGet ? canGet('sysAccountLock') : true, enterprise: false };