diff --git a/frontend/src/client/fristenrechner.ts b/frontend/src/client/fristenrechner.ts
index a2814bb5..58908b98 100644
--- a/frontend/src/client/fristenrechner.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/client/fristenrechner.ts
@@ -251,6 +251,19 @@ function closeSaveModal() {
   if (modal) modal.style.display = "none";
 }
 
+// preselectedProjectId returns the project the user picked in Step 1
+// (if any) so the various save/add flows can default their project
+// pickers to it. Carries through anywhere a "save to Akte" pop-out
+// renders \u2014 preselection is *only* a default; the picker still
+// renders every available project and the user can override.
+// m/paliad#57 part 1: 2026-05-20 user complaint \u2014 "the pre-selected
+// project should be pre-selected" on Add.
+function preselectedProjectId(): string {
+  return currentStep1Context.kind === "project" && currentStep1Context.projectId
+    ? currentStep1Context.projectId
+    : "";
+}
+
 async function openSaveModal() {
   if (!lastResponse) return;
   ensureSaveModal();
@@ -267,6 +280,7 @@ async function openSaveModal() {
     sel.style.display = "";
     noProjects.style.display = "none";
     submit.disabled = false;
+    const preselected = preselectedProjectId();
     sel.innerHTML = projects
       .map((p) => {
         const ref = (p.reference || "").trim();
@@ -274,9 +288,11 @@ async function openSaveModal() {
         const label = ref
           ? `${indent}${escHtml(ref)} \u2014 ${escHtml(p.title)}`
           : `${indent}${escHtml(p.title)}`;
-        return `<option value="${escAttr(p.id)}">${label}</option>`;
+        const selected = p.id === preselected ? " selected" : "";
+        return `<option value="${escAttr(p.id)}"${selected}>${label}</option>`;
       })
       .join("");
+    if (preselected) sel.value = preselected;
   }
 
   const list = document.getElementById("frist-save-list")!;
@@ -1260,19 +1276,27 @@ function expandCardCalc(card: HTMLElement, autoSelectPill: HTMLElement | null) {
   card.classList.add("is-expanded");
   card.setAttribute("aria-expanded", "true");
 
-  const panel = buildCalcPanel(cardData, rulePills);
-  card.appendChild(panel);
+  // m/paliad#57 part 4: when the user clicked a specific rule pill, the
+  // context is already known — the calc panel renders with that pill
+  // locked in and no "Which context?" picker. The card's pill list is
+  // hidden via CSS while is-expanded so the rules aren't listed twice.
+  // When the user clicked the card body (no autoSelectPill), the picker
+  // is the primary surface — still no duplicate pill list above it.
+  const lockedPill = (autoSelectPill && autoSelectPill.dataset.kind === "rule")
+    ? rulePills.find((p) =>
+        p.proceeding?.code === autoSelectPill.dataset.proc
+        && (autoSelectPill.dataset.focus
+            ? p.rule_local_code === autoSelectPill.dataset.focus
+            : true))
+    : undefined;
 
-  // Auto-select the clicked pill if it's a rule pill; otherwise the
-  // first pill is preselected by buildCalcPanel.
-  if (autoSelectPill && autoSelectPill.dataset.kind === "rule") {
-    selectCalcPill(card, autoSelectPill.dataset.proc, autoSelectPill.dataset.focus);
-  }
+  const panel = buildCalcPanel(cardData, rulePills, lockedPill || null);
+  card.appendChild(panel);
 
   scheduleCardCalc(card);
 }
 
-function buildCalcPanel(_cardData: SearchCard, rulePills: SearchPill[]): HTMLElement {
+function buildCalcPanel(_cardData: SearchCard, rulePills: SearchPill[], lockedPill: SearchPill | null = null): HTMLElement {
   const panel = document.createElement("div");
   panel.className = "fristen-card-calc";
   // stopPropagation so clicks inside the panel don't bubble to the
@@ -1283,10 +1307,38 @@ function buildCalcPanel(_cardData: SearchCard, rulePills: SearchPill[]): HTMLEle
   const lang = getLang();
   const today = new Date().toISOString().split("T")[0];
 
-  // Pill picker (only when >1 rule pill).
-  const pickerHtml = rulePills.length <= 1
-    ? `<input type="hidden" class="fristen-card-calc-pill-picker" data-proc="${escAttr(rulePills[0].proceeding?.code || "")}" data-focus="${escAttr(rulePills[0].rule_local_code || "")}" />`
-    : `<fieldset class="fristen-card-calc-pill-picker" role="radiogroup">
+  // Picker semantics (m/paliad#57 part 4):
+  //   - lockedPill set        → context known (user clicked a specific
+  //                             rule pill on the card). Render as a
+  //                             hidden input only; the calc panel shows
+  //                             no "Which context?" question. A small
+  //                             "ändern" link reopens the picker fieldset.
+  //   - rulePills.length <= 1 → only one possible context, never a
+  //                             picker (hidden input carries the data).
+  //   - otherwise             → show the picker as primary surface; the
+  //                             card's pill list is hidden via CSS while
+  //                             the panel is open, so the user isn't
+  //                             asked the same thing twice.
+  let pickerHtml: string;
+  if (lockedPill) {
+    const procName = lockedPill.proceeding
+      ? (lang === "en" && lockedPill.proceeding.name_en ? lockedPill.proceeding.name_en : lockedPill.proceeding.name_de)
+      : "";
+    const ruleName = lang === "en" && lockedPill.rule_name_en ? lockedPill.rule_name_en : lockedPill.rule_name_de;
+    const src = lockedPill.legal_source_display || lockedPill.legal_source || "";
+    const reopenLabel = t("deadlines.card.calc.pill_picker.change");
+    pickerHtml = `<div class="fristen-card-calc-pill-locked">
+      <span class="fristen-card-calc-pill-locked-label">${escHtml(t("deadlines.card.calc.pill_picker.locked_label"))}</span>
+      <span class="fristen-card-calc-pill-locked-proc">${escHtml(procName)}</span>
+      <span class="fristen-card-calc-pill-locked-rule">${escHtml(ruleName)}</span>
+      ${src ? `<span class="fristen-card-calc-pill-locked-source">${escHtml(src)}</span>` : ""}
+      ${rulePills.length > 1 ? `<button type="button" class="fristen-card-calc-pill-change">${escHtml(reopenLabel)}</button>` : ""}
+      <input type="hidden" class="fristen-card-calc-pill-picker" data-proc="${escAttr(lockedPill.proceeding?.code || "")}" data-focus="${escAttr(lockedPill.rule_local_code || "")}" />
+    </div>`;
+  } else if (rulePills.length <= 1) {
+    pickerHtml = `<input type="hidden" class="fristen-card-calc-pill-picker" data-proc="${escAttr(rulePills[0].proceeding?.code || "")}" data-focus="${escAttr(rulePills[0].rule_local_code || "")}" />`;
+  } else {
+    pickerHtml = `<fieldset class="fristen-card-calc-pill-picker" role="radiogroup">
          <legend class="fristen-card-calc-label">${escHtml(t("deadlines.card.calc.pill_picker.label"))}</legend>
          ${rulePills.map((p, i) => {
            const procName = p.proceeding ? (lang === "en" && p.proceeding.name_en ? p.proceeding.name_en : p.proceeding.name_de) : "";
@@ -1300,6 +1352,7 @@ function buildCalcPanel(_cardData: SearchCard, rulePills: SearchPill[]): HTMLEle
            </label>`;
          }).join("")}
        </fieldset>`;
+  }
 
   panel.innerHTML = `
     <button type="button" class="fristen-card-calc-close" aria-label="${escAttr(t("deadlines.card.calc.close"))}">×</button>
@@ -1352,6 +1405,38 @@ function buildCalcPanel(_cardData: SearchCard, rulePills: SearchPill[]): HTMLEle
     void addCalcToProject(card, last);
   });
 
+  // "ändern" — swap the locked-context caption for the full radio
+  // picker so the user can change context without collapsing the panel.
+  panel.querySelector<HTMLButtonElement>(".fristen-card-calc-pill-change")?.addEventListener("click", () => {
+    const card = panel.closest<HTMLElement>(".fristen-card");
+    const locked = panel.querySelector<HTMLElement>(".fristen-card-calc-pill-locked");
+    if (!card || !locked) return;
+    const fieldset = document.createElement("fieldset");
+    fieldset.className = "fristen-card-calc-pill-picker";
+    fieldset.setAttribute("role", "radiogroup");
+    const lockedProc = locked.querySelector<HTMLInputElement>("input.fristen-card-calc-pill-picker")?.dataset.proc || "";
+    const lockedFocus = locked.querySelector<HTMLInputElement>("input.fristen-card-calc-pill-picker")?.dataset.focus || "";
+    fieldset.innerHTML = `
+      <legend class="fristen-card-calc-label">${escHtml(t("deadlines.card.calc.pill_picker.label"))}</legend>
+      ${rulePills.map((p, i) => {
+        const procName = p.proceeding ? (lang === "en" && p.proceeding.name_en ? p.proceeding.name_en : p.proceeding.name_de) : "";
+        const ruleName = lang === "en" && p.rule_name_en ? p.rule_name_en : p.rule_name_de;
+        const src = p.legal_source_display || p.legal_source || "";
+        const isChecked = (p.proceeding?.code || "") === lockedProc
+          && (p.rule_local_code || "") === lockedFocus;
+        return `<label class="fristen-card-calc-pill-option">
+          <input type="radio" name="fristen-card-calc-pill" value="${i}" ${isChecked ? "checked" : ""} data-proc="${escAttr(p.proceeding?.code || "")}" data-focus="${escAttr(p.rule_local_code || "")}" />
+          <span class="fristen-card-calc-pill-option-proc">${escHtml(procName)}</span>
+          <span class="fristen-card-calc-pill-option-rule">${escHtml(ruleName)}</span>
+          ${src ? `<span class="fristen-card-calc-pill-option-source">${escHtml(src)}</span>` : ""}
+        </label>`;
+      }).join("")}`;
+    locked.replaceWith(fieldset);
+    fieldset.querySelectorAll<HTMLInputElement>('input[name="fristen-card-calc-pill"]').forEach((r) => {
+      r.addEventListener("change", () => scheduleCardCalc(card, 0));
+    });
+  });
+
   return panel;
 }
 
@@ -1555,6 +1640,7 @@ async function addCalcToProject(card: HTMLElement, calc: RuleCalcResponse) {
   const lang = getLang();
   const ruleName = lang === "en" ? calc.rule.nameEN : calc.rule.nameDE;
   const dueLabel = formatDate(calc.dueDate);
+  const preselected = preselectedProjectId();
   msgEl.innerHTML = `
     <div class="fristen-card-calc-add-picker">
       <label class="fristen-card-calc-label">${escHtml(t("deadlines.save.modal.akte"))}
@@ -1563,7 +1649,8 @@ async function addCalcToProject(card: HTMLElement, calc: RuleCalcResponse) {
             const ref = (p.reference || "").trim();
             const indent = projectIndent(p.path);
             const label = ref ? `${indent}${ref} — ${p.title}` : `${indent}${p.title}`;
-            return `<option value="${escAttr(p.id)}">${escHtml(label)}</option>`;
+            const selected = p.id === preselected ? " selected" : "";
+            return `<option value="${escAttr(p.id)}"${selected}>${escHtml(label)}</option>`;
           }).join("")}
         </select>
       </label>
@@ -1573,6 +1660,7 @@ async function addCalcToProject(card: HTMLElement, calc: RuleCalcResponse) {
   `;
 
   const sel = msgEl.querySelector<HTMLSelectElement>(".fristen-card-calc-add-select")!;
+  if (preselected) sel.value = preselected;
   msgEl.querySelector<HTMLButtonElement>(".fristen-card-calc-add-cancel")!.addEventListener("click", () => {
     msgEl.innerHTML = "";
     addBtn.disabled = false;
@@ -1642,12 +1730,12 @@ function renderConceptCard(card: SearchCard, lang: "de" | "en"): string {
   const triggerPills = card.pills.filter((p) => p.kind === "trigger");
 
   const ruleSection = rulePills.length === 0 ? "" : `
-    <div class="fristen-card-pills-section">
+    <div class="fristen-card-pills-section fristen-card-pills-section--rules">
       <h4 class="fristen-card-pills-heading">${escHtml(t("deadlines.search.pills.heading"))}</h4>
       <div class="fristen-card-pills">${rulePills.map((p) => renderPill(p, lang)).join("")}</div>
     </div>`;
   const triggerSection = triggerPills.length === 0 ? "" : `
-    <div class="fristen-card-pills-section">
+    <div class="fristen-card-pills-section fristen-card-pills-section--cross">
       <h4 class="fristen-card-pills-heading">${escHtml(t("deadlines.search.pills.cross_cutting"))}</h4>
       <div class="fristen-card-pills">${triggerPills.map((p) => renderPill(p, lang)).join("")}</div>
     </div>`;
@@ -2423,6 +2511,17 @@ interface EventCategoryNode {
 let eventCategoryTree: EventCategoryNode[] | null = null;
 let eventCategoryFetchInflight: Promise<EventCategoryNode[]> | null = null;
 
+// Top-level cascade roots that represent forward-looking workflows ("I
+// want to file X, what deadlines does my action trigger?") rather than
+// the backward-looking calc the Fristenrechner is built for ("event Y
+// happened, what deadlines spawn?"). m's 2026-05-20 ask (m/paliad#57):
+// remove these from the "Was ist passiert?" picker — they belong in a
+// future forward-workflow tool, not here. The DB rows stay so that
+// future tool can pick them back up; we just hide them at the UI layer.
+const HIDDEN_CASCADE_ROOTS: ReadonlySet<string> = new Set([
+  "ich-moechte-einreichen",
+]);
+
 async function loadEventCategoryTree(): Promise<EventCategoryNode[]> {
   if (eventCategoryTree) return eventCategoryTree;
   if (eventCategoryFetchInflight) return eventCategoryFetchInflight;
@@ -2431,7 +2530,8 @@ async function loadEventCategoryTree(): Promise<EventCategoryNode[]> {
       const r = await fetch("/api/tools/fristenrechner/event-categories");
       if (!r.ok) throw new Error(`HTTP ${r.status}`);
       const data = await r.json();
-      eventCategoryTree = (data.tree || []) as EventCategoryNode[];
+      const raw = (data.tree || []) as EventCategoryNode[];
+      eventCategoryTree = raw.filter((n) => !HIDDEN_CASCADE_ROOTS.has(n.slug));
       return eventCategoryTree;
     } finally {
       eventCategoryFetchInflight = null;
diff --git a/frontend/src/client/i18n.ts b/frontend/src/client/i18n.ts
index 5922a53c..413367f3 100644
--- a/frontend/src/client/i18n.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/client/i18n.ts
@@ -272,10 +272,10 @@ const translations: Record<Lang, Record<string, string>> = {
     "deadlines.step1.divider.new": "oder eine neue Akte",
     "deadlines.step1.divider.adhoc": "oder ad-hoc, ohne Akte",
     "deadlines.step1.new.cta": "+ Neue Akte anlegen",
-    "deadlines.step1.adhoc.upc": "Custom UPC-Verfahren",
-    "deadlines.step1.adhoc.de": "Custom DE-Verfahren",
-    "deadlines.step1.adhoc.epa": "Custom EPA-Verfahren",
-    "deadlines.step1.adhoc.dpma": "Custom DPMA-Verfahren",
+    "deadlines.step1.adhoc.upc": "UPC-Verfahren",
+    "deadlines.step1.adhoc.de": "DE-Verfahren",
+    "deadlines.step1.adhoc.epa": "EPA-Verfahren",
+    "deadlines.step1.adhoc.dpma": "DPMA-Verfahren",
     "deadlines.step1.selected": "Akte:",
     "deadlines.step1.reselect": "Andere Akte",
     "deadlines.step1.summary.adhoc.suffix": "ohne Akte (Erkundung)",
@@ -345,6 +345,8 @@ const translations: Record<Lang, Record<string, string>> = {
     "deadlines.card.calc.expand_hint": "Frist berechnen oder zu Akte hinzufügen",
     "deadlines.card.calc.close": "schließen",
     "deadlines.card.calc.pill_picker.label": "Welcher Kontext?",
+    "deadlines.card.calc.pill_picker.locked_label": "Kontext:",
+    "deadlines.card.calc.pill_picker.change": "ändern",
     "deadlines.card.calc.trigger.label": "Datum des auslösenden Ereignisses",
     "deadlines.card.calc.flags.label": "Bedingungen:",
     "deadlines.card.calc.flag.with_ccr": "Mit Nichtigkeitswiderklage",
@@ -2960,10 +2962,10 @@ const translations: Record<Lang, Record<string, string>> = {
     "deadlines.step1.divider.new": "or a new matter",
     "deadlines.step1.divider.adhoc": "or ad-hoc, without a matter",
     "deadlines.step1.new.cta": "+ Create new matter",
-    "deadlines.step1.adhoc.upc": "Custom UPC proceeding",
-    "deadlines.step1.adhoc.de": "Custom DE proceeding",
-    "deadlines.step1.adhoc.epa": "Custom EPA proceeding",
-    "deadlines.step1.adhoc.dpma": "Custom DPMA proceeding",
+    "deadlines.step1.adhoc.upc": "UPC proceeding",
+    "deadlines.step1.adhoc.de": "DE proceeding",
+    "deadlines.step1.adhoc.epa": "EPA proceeding",
+    "deadlines.step1.adhoc.dpma": "DPMA proceeding",
     "deadlines.step1.selected": "Matter:",
     "deadlines.step1.reselect": "Other matter",
     "deadlines.step1.summary.adhoc.suffix": "no matter (exploration)",
@@ -3040,6 +3042,8 @@ const translations: Record<Lang, Record<string, string>> = {
     "deadlines.card.calc.expand_hint": "Calculate deadline or add to project",
     "deadlines.card.calc.close": "close",
     "deadlines.card.calc.pill_picker.label": "Which context?",
+    "deadlines.card.calc.pill_picker.locked_label": "Context:",
+    "deadlines.card.calc.pill_picker.change": "change",
     "deadlines.card.calc.trigger.label": "Date of triggering event",
     "deadlines.card.calc.flags.label": "Conditions:",
     "deadlines.card.calc.flag.with_ccr": "With counterclaim for revocation",
diff --git a/frontend/src/fristenrechner.tsx b/frontend/src/fristenrechner.tsx
index cfaea26a..95f46946 100644
--- a/frontend/src/fristenrechner.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/fristenrechner.tsx
@@ -161,19 +161,19 @@ export function renderFristenrechner(): string {
                 <div className="fristen-adhoc-chips" role="group" aria-label="Ad-hoc proceeding">
                   <button type="button" className="fristen-adhoc-chip" data-ad-hoc="upc"
                           data-i18n="deadlines.step1.adhoc.upc">
-                    Custom UPC proceeding
+                    UPC proceeding
                   </button>
                   <button type="button" className="fristen-adhoc-chip" data-ad-hoc="de"
                           data-i18n="deadlines.step1.adhoc.de">
-                    Custom DE proceeding
+                    DE proceeding
                   </button>
                   <button type="button" className="fristen-adhoc-chip" data-ad-hoc="epa"
                           data-i18n="deadlines.step1.adhoc.epa">
-                    Custom EPA proceeding
+                    EPA proceeding
                   </button>
                   <button type="button" className="fristen-adhoc-chip" data-ad-hoc="dpma"
                           data-i18n="deadlines.step1.adhoc.dpma">
-                    Custom DPMA proceeding
+                    DPMA proceeding
                   </button>
                 </div>
               </div>
diff --git a/frontend/src/i18n-keys.ts b/frontend/src/i18n-keys.ts
index f415d1e2..2154a45b 100644
--- a/frontend/src/i18n-keys.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/i18n-keys.ts
@@ -971,7 +971,9 @@ export type I18nKey =
   | "deadlines.card.calc.flag.with_cci"
   | "deadlines.card.calc.flag.with_ccr"
   | "deadlines.card.calc.flags.label"
+  | "deadlines.card.calc.pill_picker.change"
   | "deadlines.card.calc.pill_picker.label"
+  | "deadlines.card.calc.pill_picker.locked_label"
   | "deadlines.card.calc.result.calculating"
   | "deadlines.card.calc.result.court_set"
   | "deadlines.card.calc.result.due"
diff --git a/frontend/src/styles/global.css b/frontend/src/styles/global.css
index b91192e3..6a463754 100644
--- a/frontend/src/styles/global.css
+++ b/frontend/src/styles/global.css
@@ -2670,6 +2670,61 @@ input[type="range"]::-moz-range-thumb {
     font-family: ui-monospace, monospace;
 }
 
+/* m/paliad#57 part 4 — once a card is expanded into a calc panel,
+   the rule-pill list is redundant with the calc panel's context
+   picker (locked caption or fieldset). Hide it so the user isn't
+   asked the same thing twice. The cross-cutting section stays —
+   those pills are alternative concepts to explore, not the same
+   proceeding context. */
+.fristen-card.is-expanded .fristen-card-pills-section--rules {
+    display: none;
+}
+
+/* Locked-context caption when the user clicked a specific rule pill
+   to expand. Shows the picked (proceeding, rule) tuple compactly
+   with a small "ändern" button to swap back to the radio picker. */
+.fristen-card-calc-pill-locked {
+    display: flex;
+    flex-wrap: wrap;
+    align-items: baseline;
+    gap: 0.4rem;
+    padding: 0.35rem 0.55rem;
+    border: 1px solid var(--color-border-subtle, #ececec);
+    border-radius: 5px;
+    background: rgba(198, 244, 28, 0.06);
+    font-size: 0.88rem;
+}
+.fristen-card-calc-pill-locked-label {
+    font-weight: 600;
+    color: var(--color-muted, #777);
+    text-transform: uppercase;
+    font-size: 0.74rem;
+    letter-spacing: 0.04em;
+}
+.fristen-card-calc-pill-locked-proc {
+    font-weight: 600;
+    color: var(--color-text, #222);
+}
+.fristen-card-calc-pill-locked-rule {
+    color: var(--color-text, #222);
+}
+.fristen-card-calc-pill-locked-source {
+    font-size: 0.8rem;
+    color: var(--color-muted, #888);
+    font-family: ui-monospace, monospace;
+}
+.fristen-card-calc-pill-change {
+    margin-left: auto;
+    background: transparent;
+    border: 0;
+    padding: 0;
+    color: var(--color-link, #1267a8);
+    cursor: pointer;
+    font-size: 0.82rem;
+    text-decoration: underline;
+}
+.fristen-card-calc-pill-change:hover { text-decoration: none; }
+
 .fristen-card-calc-inputs {
     display: flex;
     flex-wrap: wrap;