diff --git a/openspec/changes/process-ledger-and-orphan-detection/design.md b/openspec/changes/archive/2026-10-11-process-ledger-and-orphan-detection/design.md
similarity index 100%
rename from openspec/changes/process-ledger-and-orphan-detection/design.md
rename to openspec/changes/archive/2026-10-11-process-ledger-and-orphan-detection/design.md
diff --git a/openspec/changes/process-ledger-and-orphan-detection/proposal.md b/openspec/changes/archive/2026-10-11-process-ledger-and-orphan-detection/proposal.md
similarity index 100%
rename from openspec/changes/process-ledger-and-orphan-detection/proposal.md
rename to openspec/changes/archive/2026-10-11-process-ledger-and-orphan-detection/proposal.md
diff --git a/openspec/changes/process-ledger-and-orphan-detection/specs/process-ledger/spec.md b/openspec/changes/archive/2026-10-11-process-ledger-and-orphan-detection/specs/process-ledger/spec.md
similarity index 100%
rename from openspec/changes/process-ledger-and-orphan-detection/specs/process-ledger/spec.md
rename to openspec/changes/archive/2026-10-11-process-ledger-and-orphan-detection/specs/process-ledger/spec.md
diff --git a/openspec/changes/process-ledger-and-orphan-detection/tasks.md b/openspec/changes/archive/2026-10-11-process-ledger-and-orphan-detection/tasks.md
similarity index 100%
rename from openspec/changes/process-ledger-and-orphan-detection/tasks.md
rename to openspec/changes/archive/2026-10-11-process-ledger-and-orphan-detection/tasks.md
diff --git a/openspec/specs/process-ledger/spec.md b/openspec/specs/process-ledger/spec.md
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..e9074ee8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/openspec/specs/process-ledger/spec.md
@@ -0,0 +1,80 @@
+# process-ledger Specification
+
+## Purpose
+TBD - created by archiving change process-ledger-and-orphan-detection. Update Purpose after archive.
+
+## Requirements
+
+### Requirement: Every shared spawn is recorded with an OS identity
+
+Core SHALL write a synchronous ledger snapshot when a shared adapter spawns a
+child. The snapshot SHALL include run id, pid, OS start time, executable path,
+hostname, cwd, change name and a secret-free SHA-256 command-line hash. The raw
+command line SHALL NOT be stored. A start-time read failure SHALL record that
+the time is unavailable rather than inventing one.
+
+#### Scenario: A spawned agent is recorded
+
+- **WHEN** a shared adapter spawns an agent process with a PID
+- **THEN** the ledger holds a snapshot naming run, pid, start time, executable,
+  hostname, cwd and, where known, change, with a command-line hash and no raw
+  arguments
+
+#### Scenario: Start time cannot be read
+
+- **WHEN** the OS start-time read fails at spawn
+- **THEN** the snapshot is written with start time unavailable
+- **AND** no guessed time is recorded
+
+### Requirement: Normal exit updates and bounds the ledger
+
+Core SHALL mark a snapshot `exitedAt` when its process closes. Ledger state
+SHALL be stored outside the checkout keyed by canonical repository identity and
+hostname, and SHALL be bounded by count and retention.
+
+#### Scenario: A process exits normally
+
+- **WHEN** a recorded process closes
+- **THEN** its snapshot gains an exit time
+
+#### Scenario: Two machines run one repository
+
+- **WHEN** the same repository spawns processes on two hosts
+- **THEN** their snapshots are keyed apart by hostname
+
+### Requirement: Kill is re-verified and explicit
+
+Termination SHALL be an explicit, confirmable action on the recovery surface.
+Before terminating, core SHALL re-read the live OS start time for the PID and
+SHALL confirm the executable and hostname match the snapshot. A mismatch SHALL
+be reported as PID reuse and SHALL NOT be terminated. Termination SHALL use the
+existing process-tree helper.
+
+#### Scenario: The live snapshot matches
+
+- **WHEN** a person confirms termination and the live PID start time and
+  hostname match the recorded snapshot
+- **THEN** the process tree is terminated
+
+#### Scenario: PID reuse
+
+- **WHEN** the live start time differs from the recorded one
+- **THEN** no kill is issued and the mismatch is reported
+
+### Requirement: Compliance observes processes without terminating them
+
+Compliance SHALL report overdue and orphaned process findings with snapshot
+evidence and advice. Compliance SHALL NOT terminate a process, and the process
+rules SHALL have no repair implementation.
+
+#### Scenario: A process exceeds its expected duration
+
+- **WHEN** a recorded process has run past its expected limit
+- **THEN** Compliance reports a finding with the snapshot and advice
+- **AND** no process is terminated
+
+#### Scenario: A process is orphaned after a restart
+
+- **WHEN** a record has no exit time and no live writer
+- **THEN** Compliance reports it as orphaned and directs the person to the
+  recovery surface