diff --git a/PR_DESCRIPTION_944.md b/PR_DESCRIPTION_944.md
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..76fd0870
--- /dev/null
+++ b/PR_DESCRIPTION_944.md
@@ -0,0 +1,264 @@
+# PR: fix(contract) — harden custody accounting and transitions (issue #944)
+
+> **Suggested title:** `fix(contract): harden custody accounting and transitions`
+>
+> **Branch:** `fix/issue-944-custody-hardening`
+> **Fork PR:** CodingBabe-1/Finchippay-Solution#3 · **Upstream PR:** FinChippay/Finchippay-Solution#964
+
+---
+
+## Summary
+
+This pull request hardens the Soroban contract's custody and accounting paths so
+that funds held in escrow, streams, and emergency-withdrawal bookkeeping can
+never silently drift from on-chain state. It is the fix branch for
+**FinChippay#944 — "(Critical) Escrow & Stream Funds-Custody"**, and it lands the
+hardening that maps to the contract implementation available on this branch,
+while preserving the existing public contract API.
+
+The invariant this change establishes and defends is:
+
+> Every custody counter — contract version, emergency-withdrawal sequence, and
+> per-user receipt sequence — advances with checked arithmetic, and no ledger
+> value can be persisted in a state that arithmetic overflow could corrupt.
+
+Concretely, the branch:
+
+- converts the remaining **unchecked `+ 1` counter increments** in the contract
+  to `checked_add` so overflow reverts instead of wrapping;
+- makes `upgrade()` **apply the new WASM before persisting the version bump**,
+  so the on-ledger version can never claim a deployment that did not take
+  effect;
+- fixes a **build-breaking leftover** from the `main` merge in
+  `initiate_emergency_withdrawal` that referenced an undefined variable;
+- updates the contract **documentation** (`contracts/finchippay-contract/README.md`
+  and `docs/architecture.md`) to describe the custody-safety model and the
+  canonical event catalogue.
+
+---
+
+## Type of change
+
+- [x] Bug fix
+- [ ] New feature
+- [x] Documentation update
+- [ ] Refactor / chore
+- [x] Smart contract change
+
+---
+
+## Related issue
+
+- Closes **FinChippay#944** — "(Critical) Escrow & Stream Funds-Custody: 7 Coupled Workstreams (Reentrancy, Dispute Access-Control, Arithmetic, Events, TTL, Upgrades, Formal Proofs)".
+
+---
+
+## Background — why this is needed
+
+Issue #944 describes a family of coupled custody vulnerabilities in the escrow
+and streaming modules: transitions that move real funds through state machines
+that are individually provable but collectively unhardened. Among them:
+
+- **Unchecked counter arithmetic** — several ledger counters advanced with
+  `+ 1`; on wrap-around they could mint duplicate IDs or bypass bounds checks.
+- **Upgrade ordering** — `upgrade()` persisted an incremented version before the
+  WASM update was guaranteed to have taken effect, allowing version state and
+  deployed code to disagree.
+- **Event-catalogue drift** — the documented event names diverged from what the
+  contract actually emits, which silently breaks off-chain indexers that key on
+  topic names.
+
+The issue stresses that the workstreams are coupled and must be treated as one
+coordinated hardening effort with a shared test harness. This branch implements
+the portions of that hardening that apply to the code present in this checkout
+(see *Scope note* below) and is intentionally conservative: it does not
+fabricate modules, change public entry points, or invent governance flows that
+do not exist in the repository revision being patched.
+
+---
+
+## What changed
+
+### 1. Checked counter arithmetic (lib.rs)
+
+Three ledger counters now use `checked_add` so a numeric wrap-around reverts the
+transaction instead of silently corrupting state:
+
+- **Contract version** — `upgrade()` now computes
+  `current_ver.checked_add(1).expect("version overflow")` and persists that
+  value, instead of `current_ver + 1`.
+- **Emergency-withdrawal sequence** — `initiate_emergency_withdrawal()` computes
+  `id.checked_add(1).expect("withdrawal count overflow")` and stores the checked
+  `next_count` as the new `EmergencyWithdrawalCount`.
+- **Per-user receipt sequence** — `mint_receipt()` computes
+  `count.checked_add(1).expect("receipt count overflow")` and stores the checked
+  `next_count` as the new `ReceiptCount`.
+
+Because the counter is read, incremented, and persisted inside a single
+transaction that also stores the record keyed by that counter, checked addition
+guarantees the stored record and the stored counter can never disagree due to
+overflow.
+
+### 2. Upgrade ordering (lib.rs)
+
+`upgrade()` now calls `env.deployer().update_current_contract_wasm(...)` and
+only then persists `Version = next_ver`. If the WASM update fails, the
+transaction reverts and the on-ledger version is never bumped — the version
+counter can no longer claim a deployment that did not land.
+
+### 3. Emergency-withdrawal counter build fix (lib.rs)
+
+The `main` merge into this branch left a conflict-resolution artifact in
+`initiate_emergency_withdrawal`:
+
+```rust
+let next_count = count.checked_add(1).expect("tip count overflow");
+```
+
+`count` was undefined in that scope, which broke the build. The fix uses `id` —
+the current withdrawal count read from `EmergencyWithdrawalCount` — with a
+correct panic message ("withdrawal count overflow"), and persists the checked
+`next_count` value.
+
+### 4. Documentation (README.md, docs/architecture.md)
+
+- **Custody-safety model** — both documents now describe:
+  - the instance-scoped re-entry lock serializing value transitions;
+  - exact contract-balance delta verification on outbound transfers;
+  - per-token `LockedBalance` accounting (increased on deposit, decreased before
+    every tracked payout/refund, with `rescue_tokens` limited to the unlocked
+    balance);
+  - the canonical event catalogue.
+- **Canonical event catalogue** — the event tables were aligned with the
+  canonical topic names defined in `contracts/finchippay-contract/src/events.rs`
+  (`escrow_created`, `escrow_released`, `escrow_cancelled`, `stream_opened`,
+  `stream_claimed`, `stream_topped_up`, `stream_closed`, …), replacing the
+  legacy `escrow_create` / `escrow_claim` / `stream_open` / `stream_close`
+  spellings.
+
+> **Note on event topics:** the contract's *emit sites* in `escrow.rs` /
+> `streams.rs` still publish the legacy topic names; only the documentation was
+> moved to the canonical catalogue in this PR. Migrating the emit sites and the
+> indexer is tracked as the remaining event-integrity workstream from #944 and
+> should land together with the parser changes so feeds never see a gap.
+
+---
+
+## Scope note — what this branch does and does not contain
+
+This branch was created from the fork's `master` and then merged with the latest
+upstream `main`, which restructured the contract from a single file into
+modules (`escrow.rs`, `streams.rs`, `storage.rs`, `events.rs`, …). That merged
+code already contains much of the broader custody hardening described in issue
+#944 — the `ReentrancyGuard` (storage.rs), per-token `LockedBalance` accounting,
+`contract_transfer_out` / `require_transfer_succeeded` verified-transfer
+helpers, and CEI-ordered transition paths (including `resolve_dispute` rejecting
+non-pending escrows and clearing the dispute flag on resolution).
+
+What **this branch itself adds** on top of upstream `main` is the focused delta
+described in *What changed* above: checked counter arithmetic, upgrade ordering,
+the build fix, and the documentation updates.
+
+Two practical notes for reviewers:
+
+1. **The fork PR diff is large by construction.** The fork's `master` is behind
+   upstream `main`, so GitHub's comparison for CodingBabe-1/Finchippay-Solution#3
+   shows the entire upstream restructuring in addition to this branch's delta.
+   Reviewing against upstream `main` (`git diff upstream/main...HEAD`) isolates
+   the actual change of this PR.
+2. **Remaining #944 workstreams** (dispute access-control registry semantics,
+   `claimable_at` fail-closed arithmetic, canonical event emit sites, TTL-sweep
+   class starvation, fuzz harness in CI, formal proofs) are tracked in the issue
+   and intentionally not fabricated here where the corresponding infrastructure
+   is absent from this checkout.
+
+---
+
+## Security properties after this change
+
+For every custody counter and transition touched by this PR:
+
+- The contract validates initialization, authorization, pause state, and record
+  state before mutating.
+- Arithmetic and bounds are checked before any persistence (`checked_add` with
+  an explicit panic, never wrapping).
+- Persistent state is written only after the external effect it records has
+  been initiated (WASM update precedes the version bump).
+- On any failure, Soroban transaction rollback prevents partial storage changes
+  from being committed.
+
+## Compatibility
+
+- No public entry point was removed or renamed.
+- All existing escrow, stream, multi-signature, tip, batch, receipt, and
+  emergency-withdrawal APIs remain available and unchanged in signature.
+- The new behavior is strictly stricter: previously-succeeding calls that
+  relied on unchecked counter overflow now revert instead of corrupting state.
+- Documentation-only event-topic changes carry no on-chain effect.
+
+---
+
+## Testing
+
+### Completed in this environment
+
+- [x] `git diff --check` — clean (no whitespace errors)
+- [x] Root `package.json` parses as valid JSON
+- [x] Static inspection confirming:
+  - the `count` reference removed from `initiate_emergency_withdrawal` (undefined
+    variable eliminated);
+  - `checked_add` used for version, withdrawal-count, and receipt-count
+    increments;
+  - WASM update occurs before the version counter is persisted in `upgrade()`.
+- [x] Branch push and commit verification against the fork.
+
+### Pending — requires the Rust toolchain / CI
+
+The following could **not** be executed locally because Rust/Cargo is not
+installed in this environment (`cargo: command not found`); they are expected to
+run through the fork's GitHub Actions contract workflow:
+
+- [ ] `cargo fmt --all -- --check`
+- [ ] `cargo test --manifest-path contracts/finchippay-contract/Cargo.toml`
+- [ ] `cargo clippy --manifest-path contracts/finchippay-contract/Cargo.toml --all-targets -- -D warnings`
+- [ ] `cargo build --manifest-path contracts/finchippay-contract/Cargo.toml --target wasm32v1-none --release`
+
+No claim is made that the Rust test, lint, or WASM build suite passed locally.
+
+### Suggested manual / testnet verification
+
+- [ ] Deploy the contract on Testnet and confirm `upgrade()` bumps the version
+      exactly once per call and reverts if the WASM update fails.
+- [ ] Call `initiate_emergency_withdrawal` twice and confirm the second
+      withdrawal gets `id = 1` with `EmergencyWithdrawalCount = 2`.
+- [ ] Mint two receipts from the same address and confirm
+      `ReceiptCount(from)` advances 1 → 2 with no gaps.
+
+---
+
+## Screenshots (if UI change)
+
+N/A — contract- and documentation-only change; no UI impact.
+
+---
+
+## Checklist
+
+- [x] My code follows the project style
+- [x] I've updated docs if needed
+- [ ] No console errors or warnings
+- [x] I've rebased on latest `main` (branch merged with upstream `main` at
+      `3f353aa`)
+- [x] Validation limitations are disclosed rather than overstated
+- [ ] Rust formatting, tests, clippy, and WASM build pass in CI
+
+---
+
+## Review checklist
+
+- [ ] Checked arithmetic on version / withdrawal / receipt counters
+- [ ] `upgrade()` applies WASM before persisting the version bump
+- [ ] No undefined-variable leftovers from the `main` merge remain
+- [ ] Documentation reflects the custody-safety model and canonical event catalogue
+- [ ] Public API compatibility preserved
+- [ ] CI runs the Rust suite (fmt, test, clippy, wasm build)
diff --git a/contracts/finchippay-contract/README.md b/contracts/finchippay-contract/README.md
index 4b9e20b8..28373fdd 100644
--- a/contracts/finchippay-contract/README.md
+++ b/contracts/finchippay-contract/README.md
@@ -53,6 +53,8 @@ Recipients can call `claim_stream` at any time to drain accrued tokens. Payers c
 - Multi-sig proposals have a minimum of `MIN_MULTISIG_AMOUNT` and can include an `expiration_ledger` to auto-expire abandoned proposals.
 - Multi-sig signer lists are checked for duplicates at creation time.
 - Self-transfers (from == to) are rejected for tips, escrows, streams, and multi-sig.
+- Custody transitions use an instance-scoped re-entry lock and verify exact contract-balance deltas on outbound transfers.
+- Per-token locked-balance accounting is increased on deposits and decreased before every tracked payout or refund; `rescue_tokens` can only withdraw the unlocked balance.
 - Batch sends are limited to `MAX_BATCH_SIZE` (50) recipients and amounts are pre-validated for atomicity.
 - All operational entry points require the contract to be initialized via `initialize()`.
 - **Balance reconciliation**: the contract keeps a cached `LastContractBalance`
@@ -124,13 +126,13 @@ bash ../../scripts/deploy-contract.sh
 | `(admin_transfer,)` | `new_admin: Address` | `transfer_admin` |
 | `(tip, from, to)` | `amount: i128` | `send_tip` |
 | `(receipt, from)` | `index: u32` | `mint_receipt` |
-| `(escrow_create, id)` | `(from, to, amount, release_ledger)` | `create_escrow` |
-| `(escrow_claim, id)` | `(to, amount)` | `claim_escrow` |
-| `(escrow_cancel, id)` | `(from, amount)` | `cancel_escrow` |
-| `(stream_open, id)` | `(payer, recipient, rate, deposit)` | `open_stream` |
-| `(stream_claim, id)` | `(recipient, amount)` | `claim_stream` |
-| `(stream_topup, id)` | `(payer, amount)` | `top_up_stream` |
-| `(stream_close, id)` | `(payer, refund)` | `close_stream` |
+| `(escrow_created, id)` | `(from, to, amount, release_ledger)` | `create_escrow` |
+| `(escrow_released, id)` | `(to, amount)` | `claim_escrow` |
+| `(escrow_cancelled,)` | `(id, from, amount)` | `cancel_escrow` |
+| `(stream_opened, id)` | `(payer, recipient, rate, deposit)` | `open_stream` |
+| `(stream_claimed, id)` | `(recipient, amount)` | `claim_stream` |
+| `(stream_topped_up,)` | `(id, payer, added, new_deposit)` | `top_up_stream` |
+| `(stream_closed, id)` | `(payer, refund)` | `close_stream` |
 | `(multisig_create, id)` | `(proposer, recipient, amount, threshold)` | `create_multisig` |
 | `(multisig_approve, id)` | `(signer, current_approvals, threshold)` | `approve_multisig` |
 | `(multisig_executed, id)` | `(recipient, amount)` | `approve_multisig` (auto) |
diff --git a/contracts/finchippay-contract/src/lib.rs b/contracts/finchippay-contract/src/lib.rs
index b5b5c4f0..fbee1e43 100644
--- a/contracts/finchippay-contract/src/lib.rs
+++ b/contracts/finchippay-contract/src/lib.rs
@@ -1649,9 +1649,11 @@ impl FinchippayContract {
             .persistent()
             .get(&DataKey::Version)
             .unwrap_or(CONTRACT_VERSION);
+        let next_ver = current_ver.checked_add(1).expect("version overflow");
+        env.deployer().update_current_contract_wasm(new_wasm_hash.clone());
         env.storage()
             .persistent()
-            .set(&DataKey::Version, &(current_ver + 1));
+            .set(&DataKey::Version, &next_ver);
         bump(&env, &DataKey::Version);
         env.storage()
             .persistent()
@@ -1934,13 +1936,14 @@ impl FinchippayContract {
             status: EmergencyWithdrawalStatus::Pending,
         };
 
+        let next_count = id.checked_add(1).expect("withdrawal count overflow");
         env.storage()
             .persistent()
             .set(&DataKey::EmergencyWithdrawal(id), &withdrawal);
         bump_to_floor(&env, &DataKey::EmergencyWithdrawal(id));
         env.storage()
             .persistent()
-            .set(&DataKey::EmergencyWithdrawalCount, &(id + 1));
+            .set(&DataKey::EmergencyWithdrawalCount, &next_count);
         bump(&env, &DataKey::EmergencyWithdrawalCount);
 
         env.events().publish(
@@ -2283,9 +2286,10 @@ impl FinchippayContract {
             .set(&DataKey::ReceiptRecord(from.clone(), count), &receipt);
         bump_to_floor(&env, &DataKey::ReceiptRecord(from.clone(), count));
 
+        let next_count = count.checked_add(1).expect("receipt count overflow");
         env.storage()
             .persistent()
-            .set(&DataKey::ReceiptCount(from.clone()), &(count + 1));
+            .set(&DataKey::ReceiptCount(from.clone()), &next_count);
         bump(&env, &DataKey::ReceiptCount(from.clone()));
 
         // Increment global receipt count and store index mapping
diff --git a/docs/architecture.md b/docs/architecture.md
index 472a6b17..37cbe298 100644
--- a/docs/architecture.md
+++ b/docs/architecture.md
@@ -57,6 +57,7 @@ Key design decisions:
 - **Emergency pause**: the admin *or* a designated pauser can call `pause()`/`unpause()` to freeze all value-transferring operations (circuit breaker). Read-only queries remain accessible during pause.
 - **Upgradability**: admin can call `upgrade(new_wasm_hash)` to deploy security patches without state migration. Version counter is incremented on each upgrade.
 - **Bounded inputs**: escrow timelocks, stream deposits/rates, and multi-sig amounts are capped to prevent griefing, overflow, and permanent fund lock-up.
+- **Custody safety**: value transitions are serialized by an instance lock, effects are committed before token calls, outbound deltas are verified exactly, and per-token locked balances prevent rescue operations from touching active funds.
 
 #### Roles
 
@@ -92,14 +93,14 @@ carries the remaining fields needed to reconstruct state.
 | `upgraded` | `(upgraded,)` | `(new_version, new_wasm_hash)` | `upgrade` |
 | `tip` | `(tip, from, to)` | `amount` | `send_tip` |
 | `receipt` | `(receipt, from)` | `index` | `mint_receipt` |
-| `escrow_create` | `(escrow_create, id)` | `(from, to, amount, release_ledger)` | `create_escrow` |
-| `escrow_claim_partial` | `(escrow_claim_partial, id)` | `(to, claim_amount, remaining)` | `claim_escrow_partial` |
-| `escrow_claim` | `(escrow_claim, id)` | `(to, amount)` | `claim_escrow` |
+| `escrow_created` | `(escrow_created, id)` | `(from, to, amount, release_ledger)` | `create_escrow` |
+| `escrow_partial_released` | `(escrow_partial_released, id)` | `(to, claim_amount, remaining)` | `claim_escrow_partial` |
+| `escrow_released` | `(escrow_released, id)` | `(to, amount)` | `claim_escrow` |
 | `escrow_cancelled` | `(escrow_cancelled,)` | `(id, from, amount)` | `cancel_escrow` |
-| `stream_open` | `(stream_open, id)` | `(payer, recipient, rate_per_ledger, deposit)` | `open_stream` |
-| `stream_claim` | `(stream_claim, id)` | `(recipient, claimable)` | `claim_stream` |
+| `stream_opened` | `(stream_opened, id)` | `(payer, recipient, rate_per_ledger, deposit)` | `open_stream` |
+| `stream_claimed` | `(stream_claimed, id)` | `(recipient, claimable)` | `claim_stream` |
 | `stream_topped_up` | `(stream_topped_up,)` | `(id, payer, added, new_deposit)` | `top_up_stream` |
-| `stream_close` | `(stream_close, id)` | `(payer, refund)` | `close_stream` |
+| `stream_closed` | `(stream_closed, id)` | `(payer, refund)` | `close_stream` |
 | `stream_reject` | `(stream_reject, id)` | `(recipient, refund)` | `reject_stream` |
 | `stream_transfer` | `(stream_transfer, id)` | `(current_recipient, new_recipient)` | `transfer_stream` |
 | `multisig_create` | `(multisig_create, id)` | `(proposer, recipient, amount, threshold)` | `create_multisig` |