diff --git a/SeaHaven.Services/DTOs/WorkOrderBoardRequestDTOs.cs b/SeaHaven.Services/DTOs/WorkOrderBoardRequestDTOs.cs
index 593415e..2f66e06 100644
--- a/SeaHaven.Services/DTOs/WorkOrderBoardRequestDTOs.cs
+++ b/SeaHaven.Services/DTOs/WorkOrderBoardRequestDTOs.cs
@@ -41,6 +41,8 @@ namespace SeaHaven.Services.DTOs
         public DateOnly? TargetWeek { get; set; }
         public bool? ScheduleWeekOnly { get; set; }
         public DocStatus? DocStatus { get; set; }
+        /// <summary>Optional create-time lifecycle. When omitted, server defaults to Incomplete.</summary>
+        public LifecycleStatus? LifecycleStatus { get; set; }
         public int? VendorId { get; set; }
         public DateTime? ApptDate { get; set; }
         public string? ApptTime { get; set; }
diff --git a/SeaHaven.Services/Helpers/WorkOrderBoardCreateLifecycleRules.cs b/SeaHaven.Services/Helpers/WorkOrderBoardCreateLifecycleRules.cs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..0f06f3a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/SeaHaven.Services/Helpers/WorkOrderBoardCreateLifecycleRules.cs
@@ -0,0 +1,47 @@
+using Data.SeaHavenIndustries;
+using Data.SeaHavenIndustries.Enums;
+using SeaHaven.Services.Exceptions;
+
+namespace SeaHaven.Services.Helpers
+{
+    public static class WorkOrderBoardCreateLifecycleRules
+    {
+        private static readonly HashSet<LifecycleStatus> AllowedCreateStatuses =
+        [
+            LifecycleStatus.Incomplete,
+            LifecycleStatus.Pending,
+            LifecycleStatus.Scheduled,
+        ];
+
+        public static void ApplyRequestedOrInitialLifecycleStatus(
+            WorkOrder workOrder,
+            LifecycleStatus? requested,
+            DateTime? scheduledDate,
+            bool? scheduleWeekOnly)
+        {
+            if (!requested.HasValue)
+            {
+                WorkOrderBoardFieldMutations.SetInitialLifecycleStatus(workOrder);
+                return;
+            }
+
+            if (!AllowedCreateStatuses.Contains(requested.Value))
+            {
+                throw new WorkOrderBoardValidationException(
+                    "InvalidLifecycleStatus",
+                    "lifecycleStatus must be Incomplete, Pending, or Scheduled at create.");
+            }
+
+            if (requested == LifecycleStatus.Scheduled
+                && (!scheduledDate.HasValue || scheduleWeekOnly == true))
+            {
+                throw new WorkOrderBoardValidationException(
+                    "ScheduledRequiresDate",
+                    "Scheduled requires a concrete scheduledDate when scheduleWeekOnly is not true.");
+            }
+
+            workOrder.LifecycleStatus = requested.Value;
+            workOrder.Status = WorkOrderDerivedFields.GetLifecycleStatusLabel(requested.Value);
+        }
+    }
+}
diff --git a/SeaHaven.Services/Implementation/WorkOrderBoardCreateService.cs b/SeaHaven.Services/Implementation/WorkOrderBoardCreateService.cs
index 37adcc0..536054f 100644
--- a/SeaHaven.Services/Implementation/WorkOrderBoardCreateService.cs
+++ b/SeaHaven.Services/Implementation/WorkOrderBoardCreateService.cs
@@ -108,7 +108,11 @@ namespace SeaHaven.Services.Implementation
                 workOrder.VendorNotes = vendorNotes;
             }
 
-            WorkOrderBoardFieldMutations.SetInitialLifecycleStatus(workOrder);
+            WorkOrderBoardCreateLifecycleRules.ApplyRequestedOrInitialLifecycleStatus(
+                workOrder,
+                request.LifecycleStatus,
+                request.ScheduledDate,
+                request.ScheduleWeekOnly);
 
             workOrder.IsAddOn = WorkOrderAddonCutoff.ComputeIsAddOnAtCreation(
                 workOrder.CreatedDate!.Value,
@@ -121,7 +125,7 @@ namespace SeaHaven.Services.Implementation
                 WorkOrderBoardFieldMutations.BoardFieldChange.Changed("InternalWONumber", "", woNumber),
                 WorkOrderBoardFieldMutations.BoardFieldChange.Changed("WorkOrderType", "", request.WorkOrderType.ToString()),
                 WorkOrderBoardFieldMutations.BoardFieldChange.Changed("SiteCode", "", siteCode),
-                WorkOrderBoardFieldMutations.BoardFieldChange.Changed("LifecycleStatus", "", LifecycleStatus.Incomplete.ToString())
+                WorkOrderBoardFieldMutations.BoardFieldChange.Changed("LifecycleStatus", "", workOrder.LifecycleStatus?.ToString() ?? LifecycleStatus.Incomplete.ToString())
             };
 
             if (workOrder.Description != null)
diff --git a/SeaHavenIndustries.Tests/WorkOrderBoardCreateServiceTests.cs b/SeaHavenIndustries.Tests/WorkOrderBoardCreateServiceTests.cs
index ef58783..ff2f3d6 100644
--- a/SeaHavenIndustries.Tests/WorkOrderBoardCreateServiceTests.cs
+++ b/SeaHavenIndustries.Tests/WorkOrderBoardCreateServiceTests.cs
@@ -654,4 +654,54 @@ public class WorkOrderBoardCreateServiceTests
         Assert.Equal("+1 555-0101", result.Info.AdditionalContacts[0].Phone);
         Assert.Equal("Security Desk", result.Info.AdditionalContacts[1].Name);
     }
+
+    [Fact]
+    public async Task Create_WithPendingLifecycle_PersistsPending()
+    {
+        var (_, service) = CreateSut();
+
+        var result = await service.CreateAsync(new WorkOrderBoardCreateRequestDto
+        {
+            WorkOrderType = WorkOrderType.PM,
+            SiteCode = "BK5",
+            LocationId = 1,
+            LifecycleStatus = LifecycleStatus.Pending,
+        }, WorkOrderAccountTestHelpers.AccountUser(), "actor-1");
+
+        Assert.Equal(LifecycleStatus.Pending, result.LifecycleStatus);
+    }
+
+    [Fact]
+    public async Task Create_WithScheduledLifecycleAndDate_PersistsWithoutAssignee()
+    {
+        var (_, service) = CreateSut();
+
+        var result = await service.CreateAsync(new WorkOrderBoardCreateRequestDto
+        {
+            WorkOrderType = WorkOrderType.PM,
+            SiteCode = "BK5",
+            LocationId = 1,
+            LifecycleStatus = LifecycleStatus.Scheduled,
+            ScheduledDate = new DateTime(2026, 7, 15),
+            ScheduleWeekOnly = false,
+        }, WorkOrderAccountTestHelpers.AccountUser(), "actor-1");
+
+        Assert.Equal(LifecycleStatus.Scheduled, result.LifecycleStatus);
+        Assert.Equal(new DateTime(2026, 7, 15), result.ScheduledDate?.Date);
+    }
+
+    [Fact]
+    public async Task Create_WithScheduledLifecycleWithoutDate_Throws()
+    {
+        var (_, service) = CreateSut();
+
+        await Assert.ThrowsAsync<WorkOrderBoardValidationException>(() =>
+            service.CreateAsync(new WorkOrderBoardCreateRequestDto
+            {
+                WorkOrderType = WorkOrderType.PM,
+                SiteCode = "BK5",
+                LocationId = 1,
+                LifecycleStatus = LifecycleStatus.Scheduled,
+            }, WorkOrderAccountTestHelpers.AccountUser(), "actor-1"));
+    }
 }