diff --git a/.jules/palette.md b/.jules/palette.md
index a34ea59b2..1f318ab97 100644
--- a/.jules/palette.md
+++ b/.jules/palette.md
@@ -13,3 +13,6 @@
 ## 2026-07-13 - Async Table Actions UX
 **Learning:** Adding explicit loading and disabled states to table action buttons that invoke asynchronous processes helps prevent redundant API calls and visually assures the user that their request is being handled.
 **Action:** Consistently apply `disabled` state and `Loading...` text changes to inline table action buttons linked to async workflows, and carefully preserve underlying DOM structures with `Array.from(btn.childNodes)` during the loading cycle to avoid rendering regressions.
+## 2026-09-30 - Add explicit text (required) to field label
+**Learning:** Required form fields need explicit text `(required)` inside the label for accessibility, rather than using styled asterisks. When doing so inside a CSS grid container like `.field-label`, the text needs to be wrapped in a `<span>` to prevent `display: grid` from forcing elements onto separate tracks.
+**Action:** Use explicit `(required)` text wrapped in `<span>` for required fields in CSS grids.
diff --git a/src/main/java/com/clearfolio/viewer/controller/ViewerUiController.java b/src/main/java/com/clearfolio/viewer/controller/ViewerUiController.java
index 3e5ee0710..d55dfd56f 100644
--- a/src/main/java/com/clearfolio/viewer/controller/ViewerUiController.java
+++ b/src/main/java/com/clearfolio/viewer/controller/ViewerUiController.java
@@ -185,7 +185,7 @@ private static String demoShellHtml() {
                         </div>
 
                         <form id="upload-form" class="upload-form" enctype="multipart/form-data">
-                          <label class="field-label" for="file-input">Document</label>
+                          <label class="field-label" for="file-input"><span>Document (required)</span></label>
                           <input id="file-input" name="file" class="file-input" type="file" required />
 
                           <div class="actions">
diff --git a/src/test/java/com/clearfolio/viewer/controller/ViewerUiRequiredFieldAccessibilityTest.java b/src/test/java/com/clearfolio/viewer/controller/ViewerUiRequiredFieldAccessibilityTest.java
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..c5e183221
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/test/java/com/clearfolio/viewer/controller/ViewerUiRequiredFieldAccessibilityTest.java
@@ -0,0 +1,33 @@
+package com.clearfolio.viewer.controller;
+
+import static org.junit.jupiter.api.Assertions.assertTrue;
+
+import org.junit.jupiter.api.BeforeEach;
+import org.junit.jupiter.api.Test;
+import org.springframework.http.MediaType;
+import org.springframework.test.web.reactive.server.WebTestClient;
+
+class ViewerUiRequiredFieldAccessibilityTest {
+
+    private WebTestClient webTestClient;
+
+    @BeforeEach
+    void setUp() {
+        ViewerUiController controller = new ViewerUiController();
+        webTestClient = WebTestClient.bindToController(controller).build();
+    }
+
+    @Test
+    void viewerRendersAccessibleRequiredField() {
+        webTestClient.get()
+                .uri("/")
+                .exchange()
+                .expectStatus().isOk()
+                .expectHeader().contentTypeCompatibleWith(MediaType.TEXT_HTML)
+                .expectBody(String.class)
+                .value(body -> {
+                    assertTrue(body.contains("for=\"file-input\""));
+                    assertTrue(body.contains("<span>Document (required)</span>"));
+                });
+    }
+}