diff --git a/.github/workflows/ci.yml b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
index 4e16102..4a0a8cd 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/ci.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
@@ -49,6 +49,33 @@ jobs:
             exit 1
           fi
 
+      - name: Ensure handoff artifacts are not tracked
+        run: |
+          patterns=(
+            'HANDOFF.md'
+            'HANDOFF_*.md'
+            'handoff.md'
+            'handoff_*.md'
+            'PR_INFO.md'
+            'PR_DESCRIPTION.md'
+            'PR_BODY.md'
+            'pr-info.md'
+            'pr_info.md'
+            'pr-description.md'
+            'pr_description.md'
+            'pr-body.md'
+            'pr_body.md'
+          )
+          found=0
+          for p in "${patterns[@]}"; do
+            matches=$(git ls-files "$p" 2>/dev/null)
+            if [ -n "$matches" ]; then
+              echo "::error::Handoff artifact must not be committed: $matches"
+              found=1
+            fi
+          done
+          if [ "$found" -eq 1 ]; then exit 1; fi
+
   serverless-smoke:
     name: Serverless Smoke
     if: github.event_name == 'pull_request'
diff --git a/PR_INFO.md b/PR_INFO.md
deleted file mode 100644
index 1ab5237..0000000
--- a/PR_INFO.md
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,145 +0,0 @@
-# Pull Request Information
-
-## Summary
-
-Successfully completed issue #134: Added Portuguese (PT) locale and established translation contribution workflow.
-
-## PR Details
-
-**Title:** `feat(i18n): add Portuguese locale and translation contribution flow`
-
-**Base Branch:** `develop` (in wraith-protocol/www)  
-**Head Branch:** `feat/add-portuguese-locale` (in code3ks/www)
-
-**PR Body:**
-
-````markdown
-## Summary
-
-This PR adds Portuguese (PT) as a third locale to the website and establishes a documented, repeatable translation contribution workflow.
-
-## Changes
-
-### Core Implementation
-
-- ✅ Added `src/i18n/pt.json` with complete Portuguese translations (241 keys)
-- ✅ Extended `scripts/lint-i18n.mjs` to enforce parity across all locales
-  - Validates all locale files have identical key structures
-  - Fails CI on missing or extraneous keys
-  - Detects hardcoded strings in components
-- ✅ Updated `src/i18n/index.ts` to register Portuguese locale
-- ✅ Language switcher automatically picks up PT from locale list
-
-### Documentation
-
-- ✅ Created `TRANSLATIONS.md` at repo root documenting:
-  - How to add a new locale
-  - How to keep translations in sync
-  - What strings not to translate (brand names, code snippets)
-  - Review process and contributor recognition
-
-### Contributors
-
-- ✅ Created `src/data/team.json` for contributor credits
-
-## Testing
-
-### Locale Parity Validation
-
-```bash
-pnpm run lint:i18n
-```
-````
-
-Output:
-
-```
-✅ All locales have matching key structures!
-✅ No hardcoded JSX strings found in 14 component(s).
-✅ All i18n checks passed!
-```
-
-### Build Verification
-
-```bash
-pnpm run build
-```
-
-- ✅ TypeScript compilation passes
-- ✅ Vite build successful
-- ✅ All assets generated correctly
-
-### Automated Tests
-
-```bash
-pnpm test
-```
-
-- ✅ All i18n-related tests pass
-- ✅ Footer, NotFound, and A11y tests pass (11 total)
-- ⚠️ 2 pre-existing Stellar page test failures (unrelated to i18n)
-
-## Screenshots
-
-The Portuguese locale is automatically available in the language switcher and can be selected by users with PT browser settings or manually via the header dropdown.
-
-## Acceptance Criteria
-
-- [x] Every page renders in EN, ES, PT with no missing-key fallbacks
-- [x] CI parity gate fails on introduced drift
-- [x] TRANSLATIONS.md covers the contribution loop end-to-end
-- [x] Build passes
-- [x] Lighthouse Perf/SEO remain high (no regressions)
-
-Closes #134
-
-````
-
-## How to Create the PR
-
-1. Go to: https://github.com/wraith-protocol/www/compare/develop...code3ks:www:feat/add-portuguese-locale
-
-2. Click "Create pull request"
-
-3. Fill in the title and description from above
-
-4. Submit the PR
-
-## Changes Made
-
-### Files Added
-- `src/i18n/pt.json` - Complete Portuguese translations
-- `TRANSLATIONS.md` - Translation contribution guide
-- `src/data/team.json` - Contributor credits
-
-### Files Modified
-- `src/i18n/index.ts` - Registered Portuguese locale
-- `scripts/lint-i18n.mjs` - Enhanced to enforce locale parity
-
-## Verification Commands
-
-Run these to verify the implementation:
-
-```bash
-# Check locale parity
-pnpm run lint:i18n
-
-# Build the project
-pnpm run build
-
-# Run tests
-pnpm test
-````
-
-## Next Steps
-
-1. Create the PR on GitHub using the link above
-2. Wait for CI to run and verify all checks pass
-3. Request review from maintainers
-4. Get native Portuguese speaker review (optional but recommended)
-5. Address any feedback
-6. Get PR merged
-
-## Issue Link
-
-Closes: https://github.com/wraith-protocol/www/issues/134
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index a92f3dd..43e20ac 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@
     "test:a11y": "vitest run src/__tests__/a11y.test.tsx",
     "test:a11y:playwright": "playwright test tests/a11y",
     "test:link-check": "vitest run tests/link-check",
+    "test:gate": "bash tests/handoff-gate.test.sh",
     "check:links": "tsx scripts/check-links.ts",
     "format": "prettier --write .",
     "format:check": "prettier --check .",
diff --git a/tests/handoff-gate.test.sh b/tests/handoff-gate.test.sh
new file mode 100755
index 0000000..6620ee3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/handoff-gate.test.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,153 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+# Tests for the "Ensure handoff artifacts are not tracked" CI gate.
+#
+# Strategy: initialise a throw-away git repo in a temp directory, stage one
+# artifact at a time, run the gate logic, and assert it exits non-zero.
+# Then verify that the matching lowercase / hyphen / underscore variants that
+# were historically missing also trigger the gate.
+
+set -euo pipefail
+
+PASS=0
+FAIL=0
+
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+# Helpers
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+# Colours (suppressed when not a TTY)
+if [ -t 1 ]; then
+  GREEN='\033[0;32m'; RED='\033[0;31m'; RESET='\033[0m'
+else
+  GREEN=''; RED=''; RESET=''
+fi
+
+ok()   { echo -e "${GREEN}  PASS${RESET}  $1"; PASS=$((PASS+1)); }
+fail() { echo -e "${RED}  FAIL${RESET}  $1"; FAIL=$((FAIL+1)); }
+
+# Run the gate logic against a git repo that has $1 tracked.
+# Returns the gate's exit code (0 = clean, 1 = blocked).
+run_gate_with_file() {
+  local file="$1"
+  local tmpdir
+  tmpdir=$(mktemp -d)
+  # shellcheck disable=SC2064
+  trap "rm -rf '$tmpdir'" RETURN
+
+  git -C "$tmpdir" init -q
+  git -C "$tmpdir" config user.email "test@example.com"
+  git -C "$tmpdir" config user.name "Test"
+
+  # Create parent dirs if the path contains a slash (subdirectory variant)
+  mkdir -p "$tmpdir/$(dirname "$file")"
+  echo "stub" > "$tmpdir/$file"
+  git -C "$tmpdir" add "$file"
+
+  # Replicate the exact gate logic from ci.yml
+  (
+    cd "$tmpdir"
+    patterns=(
+      'HANDOFF.md'
+      'HANDOFF_*.md'
+      'handoff.md'
+      'handoff_*.md'
+      'PR_INFO.md'
+      'PR_DESCRIPTION.md'
+      'PR_BODY.md'
+      'pr-info.md'
+      'pr_info.md'
+      'pr-description.md'
+      'pr_description.md'
+      'pr-body.md'
+      'pr_body.md'
+    )
+    found=0
+    for p in "${patterns[@]}"; do
+      matches=$(git ls-files "$p" 2>/dev/null)
+      if [ -n "$matches" ]; then
+        found=1
+      fi
+    done
+    exit "$found"
+  )
+  return $?
+}
+
+# Assert that staging $1 causes the gate to block (exit 1).
+assert_blocked() {
+  local file="$1"
+  if run_gate_with_file "$file"; then
+    fail "gate should block '$file' but it passed"
+  else
+    ok "gate blocks '$file'"
+  fi
+}
+
+# Assert that staging $1 does NOT trigger the gate (exit 0).
+assert_allowed() {
+  local file="$1"
+  if run_gate_with_file "$file"; then
+    ok "gate allows '$file'"
+  else
+    fail "gate should allow '$file' but it blocked"
+  fi
+}
+
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+# HANDOFF family
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+echo
+echo "--- HANDOFF family ---"
+assert_blocked "HANDOFF.md"
+assert_blocked "HANDOFF_v2.md"
+assert_blocked "HANDOFF_final.md"
+assert_blocked "handoff.md"
+assert_blocked "handoff_v2.md"
+assert_blocked "handoff_final.md"
+
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+# PR_INFO / pr-info / pr_info family
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+echo
+echo "--- PR_INFO family ---"
+assert_blocked "PR_INFO.md"
+assert_blocked "pr-info.md"
+assert_blocked "pr_info.md"
+
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+# PR_DESCRIPTION / pr-description / pr_description family
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+echo
+echo "--- PR_DESCRIPTION family ---"
+assert_blocked "PR_DESCRIPTION.md"
+assert_blocked "pr-description.md"
+assert_blocked "pr_description.md"
+
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+# PR_BODY / pr-body / pr_body family
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+echo
+echo "--- PR_BODY family ---"
+assert_blocked "PR_BODY.md"
+assert_blocked "pr-body.md"
+assert_blocked "pr_body.md"
+
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+# Negative cases — files that must NOT be blocked
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+echo
+echo "--- Negative cases (should pass the gate) ---"
+assert_allowed "README.md"
+assert_allowed "docs/CONTRIBUTING.md"
+assert_allowed "CHANGELOG.md"
+assert_allowed "src/handoff-utils.ts"   # not a .md at root
+assert_allowed "notes/handoff-notes.txt" # wrong extension
+
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+# Summary
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+echo
+echo "Results: ${PASS} passed, ${FAIL} failed"
+if [ "$FAIL" -gt 0 ]; then
+  exit 1
+fi