diff --git a/resources/js/components/tickets/AcceptanceCriteriaChecklist.vue b/resources/js/components/tickets/AcceptanceCriteriaChecklist.vue
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..16e8c6e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/resources/js/components/tickets/AcceptanceCriteriaChecklist.vue
@@ -0,0 +1,300 @@
+<script setup lang="ts">
+import {
+    ClipboardCheck,
+    IndentDecrease,
+    IndentIncrease,
+    Plus,
+    Trash2,
+} from 'lucide-vue-next';
+import { computed, nextTick, ref, useId } from 'vue';
+import { Button } from '@/components/ui/button';
+import InputError from '@/components/InputError.vue';
+import { useLocalization } from '@/composables/useLocalization';
+import {
+    canIndentAcceptanceCriterion,
+    indentAcceptanceCriterion,
+    removeAcceptanceCriterion,
+    syncAcceptanceCriteriaDescendantCheckedState,
+} from '@/lib/acceptance-criteria';
+import type { AcceptanceCriteriaModel } from '@/types/models/acceptance-criteria-model';
+
+const props = withDefaults(
+    defineProps<{
+        modelValue: AcceptanceCriteriaModel;
+        readonly?: boolean;
+        disabled?: boolean;
+        persistToggles?: boolean;
+        dirty?: boolean;
+        error?: string;
+    }>(),
+    {
+        readonly: false,
+        disabled: false,
+        persistToggles: false,
+        dirty: false,
+        error: '',
+    },
+);
+const emit = defineEmits<{
+    'update:modelValue': [items: AcceptanceCriteriaModel];
+    toggle: [index: number, checked: boolean];
+}>();
+const { t } = useLocalization();
+const id = useId();
+const root = ref<HTMLElement>();
+const editing = ref(!props.persistToggles);
+const completed = computed(
+    () => props.modelValue.filter((item) => item.checked).length,
+);
+const locked = computed(() => props.readonly || props.disabled);
+const update = (items: AcceptanceCriteriaModel): void => {
+    if (!locked.value) {
+        emit('update:modelValue', items);
+    }
+};
+const focusRow = async (index: number): Promise<void> => {
+    await nextTick();
+    const inputs =
+        root.value?.querySelectorAll<HTMLTextAreaElement>('textarea');
+    if (inputs?.[index]) {
+        inputs[index].focus();
+    } else {
+        root.value
+            ?.querySelector<HTMLButtonElement>('[data-add-criterion]')
+            ?.focus();
+    }
+};
+const add = (): void => {
+    update([...props.modelValue, { text: '', checked: false, indent: 0 }]);
+    void focusRow(props.modelValue.length);
+};
+const remove = (index: number): void => {
+    update(removeAcceptanceCriterion(props.modelValue, index));
+    void focusRow(Math.max(0, index - 1));
+};
+const changeText = (index: number, event: Event): void => {
+    const target = event.target as HTMLTextAreaElement;
+    const text = target.value;
+    target.setCustomValidity(text.trim() === '' ? t('criteria.required') : '');
+    update(
+        props.modelValue.map((item, position) =>
+            position === index ? { ...item, text } : item,
+        ),
+    );
+};
+const toggle = (index: number, event: Event): void => {
+    const target = event.target as HTMLInputElement;
+    const checked = target.checked;
+    target.checked = props.modelValue[index].checked;
+    if (locked.value) {
+        return;
+    }
+    if (props.persistToggles && !editing.value && !props.dirty) {
+        emit('toggle', index, checked);
+    } else {
+        update(
+            syncAcceptanceCriteriaDescendantCheckedState(
+                props.modelValue,
+                index,
+                checked,
+            ),
+        );
+    }
+};
+const onKeydown = (index: number, event: KeyboardEvent): void => {
+    if (!event.altKey || !['ArrowLeft', 'ArrowRight'].includes(event.key)) {
+        return;
+    }
+    event.preventDefault();
+    update(
+        indentAcceptanceCriterion(
+            props.modelValue,
+            index,
+            event.key === 'ArrowRight' ? 1 : -1,
+        ),
+    );
+};
+</script>
+
+<template>
+    <section
+        ref="root"
+        class="border-border bg-card min-w-0 space-y-4 rounded-xl border p-4 sm:p-5"
+        :aria-labelledby="`${id}-title`"
+        :aria-busy="disabled"
+    >
+        <div class="flex flex-wrap items-center justify-between gap-3">
+            <h3
+                :id="`${id}-title`"
+                class="flex items-center gap-2 font-semibold"
+            >
+                <ClipboardCheck
+                    class="text-primary size-5"
+                    aria-hidden="true"
+                />
+                {{ t('criteria.title') }}
+            </h3>
+            <span class="text-muted-foreground text-sm" aria-live="polite">{{
+                t('criteria.progress', { completed, total: modelValue.length })
+            }}</span>
+            <Button
+                v-if="persistToggles && !readonly"
+                type="button"
+                variant="outline"
+                :disabled="
+                    disabled ||
+                    (editing &&
+                        modelValue.some((item) => item.text.trim() === ''))
+                "
+                :aria-pressed="editing"
+                @click="editing = !editing"
+            >
+                {{ t(editing ? 'criteria.preview' : 'criteria.edit') }}
+            </Button>
+        </div>
+        <p v-if="!modelValue.length" class="text-muted-foreground text-sm">
+            {{ t('criteria.empty') }}
+        </p>
+        <ol v-else class="space-y-3">
+            <li
+                v-for="(item, index) in modelValue"
+                :key="item.id ?? `new-${index}`"
+                :data-indent="item.indent"
+                class="border-border min-w-0"
+                :class="{ 'border-s-2 ps-2': item.indent > 0 }"
+                :style="{ marginInlineStart: `${item.indent * 0.5}rem` }"
+            >
+                <div class="flex min-w-0 items-start gap-2">
+                    <label
+                        class="focus-within:ring-ring flex min-h-11 w-11 shrink-0 cursor-pointer items-center justify-center rounded-md focus-within:ring-2"
+                        :class="{ 'cursor-not-allowed opacity-60': locked }"
+                    >
+                        <input
+                            :checked="item.checked"
+                            type="checkbox"
+                            :disabled="locked"
+                            :aria-label="
+                                t('criteria.complete', {
+                                    number: index + 1,
+                                    text: item.text,
+                                })
+                            "
+                            class="border-input accent-primary size-5 rounded"
+                            @change="toggle(index, $event)"
+                        />
+                    </label>
+                    <div class="min-w-0 flex-1">
+                        <textarea
+                            v-if="editing && !readonly"
+                            :value="item.text"
+                            :aria-label="
+                                t('criteria.item', { number: index + 1 })
+                            "
+                            :aria-describedby="`${id}-hint ${id}-error`"
+                            :disabled="disabled"
+                            required
+                            rows="2"
+                            class="border-input bg-background focus-visible:ring-ring min-h-11 w-full rounded-md border px-3 py-2 text-sm outline-none focus-visible:ring-2 disabled:opacity-60"
+                            @input="changeText(index, $event)"
+                            @keydown="onKeydown(index, $event)"
+                        />
+                        <p
+                            v-else
+                            class="wrap-anywhere min-h-11 whitespace-pre-wrap py-2.5 text-sm"
+                            :class="{
+                                'text-muted-foreground line-through':
+                                    item.checked,
+                            }"
+                        >
+                            {{ item.text }}
+                        </p>
+                        <div
+                            v-if="editing && !readonly"
+                            class="flex flex-wrap gap-1"
+                        >
+                            <Button
+                                type="button"
+                                variant="ghost"
+                                size="icon"
+                                :disabled="disabled || item.indent === 0"
+                                :aria-label="
+                                    t('criteria.outdent', { number: index + 1 })
+                                "
+                                @click="
+                                    update(
+                                        indentAcceptanceCriterion(
+                                            modelValue,
+                                            index,
+                                            -1,
+                                        ),
+                                    )
+                                "
+                                ><IndentDecrease aria-hidden="true"
+                            /></Button>
+                            <Button
+                                type="button"
+                                variant="ghost"
+                                size="icon"
+                                :disabled="
+                                    disabled ||
+                                    !canIndentAcceptanceCriterion(
+                                        modelValue,
+                                        index,
+                                    )
+                                "
+                                :aria-label="
+                                    t('criteria.indent', { number: index + 1 })
+                                "
+                                @click="
+                                    update(
+                                        indentAcceptanceCriterion(
+                                            modelValue,
+                                            index,
+                                            1,
+                                        ),
+                                    )
+                                "
+                                ><IndentIncrease aria-hidden="true"
+                            /></Button>
+                            <Button
+                                type="button"
+                                variant="ghost"
+                                size="icon"
+                                :disabled="disabled"
+                                :aria-label="
+                                    t('criteria.remove', { number: index + 1 })
+                                "
+                                @click="remove(index)"
+                                ><Trash2 aria-hidden="true"
+                            /></Button>
+                        </div>
+                    </div>
+                </div>
+            </li>
+        </ol>
+        <template v-if="editing && !readonly">
+            <Button
+                data-add-criterion
+                type="button"
+                variant="outline"
+                :disabled="disabled"
+                @click="add"
+                ><Plus aria-hidden="true" />{{ t('criteria.add') }}</Button
+            >
+            <p :id="`${id}-hint`" class="text-muted-foreground text-xs">
+                {{ t('criteria.hint') }}
+            </p>
+        </template>
+        <p
+            v-if="persistToggles && dirty"
+            class="text-muted-foreground text-sm"
+            role="status"
+        >
+            {{ t('criteria.unsaved') }}
+        </p>
+        <p v-if="disabled" class="text-muted-foreground text-sm" role="status">
+            {{ t('criteria.saving') }}
+        </p>
+        <InputError :id="`${id}-error`" :message="error" role="alert" />
+    </section>
+</template>
diff --git a/resources/js/lib/acceptance-criteria.ts b/resources/js/lib/acceptance-criteria.ts
index 79cf7d3..b690c01 100644
--- a/resources/js/lib/acceptance-criteria.ts
+++ b/resources/js/lib/acceptance-criteria.ts
@@ -5,6 +5,76 @@ import type {
 
 const MAX_INDENT_LEVEL = 8;
 
+export const canIndentAcceptanceCriterion = (
+    items: AcceptanceCriteriaModel,
+    index: number,
+): boolean => {
+    const item = items[index];
+    const previous = items[index - 1];
+    if (!item || !previous || item.indent > previous.indent) {
+        return false;
+    }
+    return items
+        .slice(index, acceptanceCriteriaSubtreeEnd(items, index))
+        .every((descendant) => descendant.indent < MAX_INDENT_LEVEL);
+};
+
+const acceptanceCriteriaSubtreeEnd = (
+    items: AcceptanceCriteriaModel,
+    index: number,
+): number => {
+    let end = index + 1;
+    while (end < items.length && items[end].indent > items[index].indent) {
+        end++;
+    }
+    return end;
+};
+
+export const indentAcceptanceCriterion = (
+    items: AcceptanceCriteriaModel,
+    index: number,
+    direction: 1 | -1,
+): AcceptanceCriteriaModel => {
+    if (
+        !items[index] ||
+        (direction === 1
+            ? !canIndentAcceptanceCriterion(items, index)
+            : items[index].indent === 0)
+    ) {
+        return items;
+    }
+    const end = acceptanceCriteriaSubtreeEnd(items, index);
+    return items.map((item, position) =>
+        position >= index && position < end
+            ? { ...item, indent: item.indent + direction }
+            : item,
+    );
+};
+
+/** Remove only the selected criterion, promoting its children without losing them. */
+export const removeAcceptanceCriterion = (
+    items: AcceptanceCriteriaModel,
+    index: number,
+): AcceptanceCriteriaModel => {
+    if (!items[index]) {
+        return items;
+    }
+    const end = acceptanceCriteriaSubtreeEnd(items, index);
+    return items.flatMap((item, position) =>
+        position === index
+            ? []
+            : [
+                  {
+                      ...item,
+                      indent:
+                          position > index && position < end
+                              ? item.indent - 1
+                              : item.indent,
+                  },
+              ],
+    );
+};
+
 export type AcceptanceCriteriaEditorState = {
     checklist: string;
 };
diff --git a/resources/js/locales/en.ts b/resources/js/locales/en.ts
index 79b3837..308212a 100644
--- a/resources/js/locales/en.ts
+++ b/resources/js/locales/en.ts
@@ -1,4 +1,23 @@
 export const en = {
+    'criteria.title': 'Acceptance criteria',
+    'criteria.progress': '{completed} of {total} complete',
+    'criteria.empty': 'No acceptance criteria yet.',
+    'criteria.required': 'Enter a criterion or remove this row.',
+    'criteria.edit': 'Edit checklist',
+    'criteria.preview': 'Preview checklist',
+    'criteria.item': 'Criterion {number}',
+    'criteria.complete': 'Complete criterion {number}: {text}',
+    'criteria.indent': 'Indent criterion {number}',
+    'criteria.outdent': 'Outdent criterion {number}',
+    'criteria.remove': 'Remove criterion {number}',
+    'criteria.add': 'Add criterion',
+    'criteria.hint':
+        'Use the indent buttons or Alt + Left/Right in a text field to nest criteria. Checking a parent also checks its children. Removing a parent keeps its children.',
+    'criteria.unsaved': 'Checklist changes will be saved with the ticket.',
+    'criteria.saving': 'Saving checklist…',
+    'criteria.saveError':
+        'Checklist status could not be saved. Please try again.',
+
     'board.title': '{name} board',
     'board.description':
         'Work in your configured workflow. Tickets without a board column stay in the backlog.',
diff --git a/resources/js/pages/projects/Ticket.vue b/resources/js/pages/projects/Ticket.vue
index 65d2fdb..11eac36 100644
--- a/resources/js/pages/projects/Ticket.vue
+++ b/resources/js/pages/projects/Ticket.vue
@@ -10,9 +10,6 @@ import {
 import { CheckCircle2, GitBranchPlus, XCircle } from 'lucide-vue-next';
 import { computed, ref, toRef, unref, watch } from 'vue';
 import {
-    acceptanceCriteriaToEditorState,
-    buildAcceptanceCriteria,
-    formatChecklistLines,
     normalizeAcceptanceCriteria,
     syncAcceptanceCriteriaDescendantCheckedState,
 } from '@/lib/acceptance-criteria';
@@ -20,6 +17,7 @@ import ProjectTicketBranchController from '@/actions/App/Http/Controllers/Projec
 import ProjectTicketLinkController from '@/actions/App/Http/Controllers/ProjectTicketLinkController';
 import ProjectTicketController from '@/actions/App/Http/Controllers/ProjectTicketController';
 import Heading from '@/components/Heading.vue';
+import AcceptanceCriteriaChecklist from '@/components/tickets/AcceptanceCriteriaChecklist.vue';
 import InputError from '@/components/InputError.vue';
 import FormFeedback from '@/components/FormFeedback.vue';
 import FeedbackState from '@/components/FeedbackState.vue';
@@ -131,18 +129,12 @@ const breadcrumbs: BreadcrumbItem[] = [
     },
 ];
 
-const acceptanceCriteriaEditorState = acceptanceCriteriaToEditorState(
-    props.ticket.acceptance_criteria,
-);
 const draftKey = `projects:${props.project.id}:tickets:${props.ticket.id}:edit`;
 const acceptanceCriteriaDraft = useRemember(
-    { checklist: acceptanceCriteriaEditorState.checklist },
-    `${draftKey}:checklist`,
-);
-const acceptanceCriteriaChecklist = toRef(
-    unref(acceptanceCriteriaDraft),
-    'checklist',
+    { items: normalizeAcceptanceCriteria(props.ticket.acceptance_criteria) },
+    `${draftKey}:criteria`,
 );
+const acceptanceCriteriaItems = toRef(unref(acceptanceCriteriaDraft), 'items');
 const savedAcceptanceCriteria = ref(
     normalizeAcceptanceCriteria(props.ticket.acceptance_criteria),
 );
@@ -150,8 +142,8 @@ const isPersistingAcceptanceCriteriaToggle = ref(false);
 const acceptanceCriteriaToggleError = ref('');
 
 const form = useForm(draftKey, {
-    acceptance_criteria: buildAcceptanceCriteria(
-        acceptanceCriteriaChecklist.value,
+    acceptance_criteria: normalizeAcceptanceCriteria(
+        props.ticket.acceptance_criteria,
     ),
     assignee_user_id: props.ticket.assignee_user_id ?? '',
     author_user_id: props.ticket.author_user_id ?? '',
@@ -178,14 +170,10 @@ const form = useForm(draftKey, {
     story_points: props.ticket.story_points,
 });
 
-const acceptanceCriteriaPreviewItems = computed(
-    () => savedAcceptanceCriteria.value,
-);
-
 const hasUnsavedAcceptanceCriteriaDraft = computed(
     () =>
-        acceptanceCriteriaChecklist.value !==
-        formatChecklistLines(savedAcceptanceCriteria.value),
+        JSON.stringify(acceptanceCriteriaItems.value) !==
+        JSON.stringify(savedAcceptanceCriteria.value),
 );
 
 const protection = useFormProtection(form, {
@@ -399,19 +387,6 @@ const submitBranchCreation = (): void => {
     );
 };
 
-const buildAcceptanceCriteriaForSubmit = () => {
-    const draftItems = buildAcceptanceCriteria(
-        acceptanceCriteriaChecklist.value,
-    );
-
-    return draftItems.map((item, index) => ({
-        ...item,
-        ...(savedAcceptanceCriteria.value[index]?.id !== undefined
-            ? { id: savedAcceptanceCriteria.value[index].id }
-            : {}),
-    }));
-};
-
 const buildSavedTicketPayload = (
     acceptanceCriteria = savedAcceptanceCriteria.value,
 ) => ({
@@ -439,6 +414,7 @@ const persistAcceptanceCriteriaToggle = async (
 ): Promise<void> => {
     if (
         !props.canEditTicket ||
+        form.processing ||
         isPersistingAcceptanceCriteriaToggle.value ||
         hasUnsavedAcceptanceCriteriaDraft.value
     ) {
@@ -450,10 +426,6 @@ const persistAcceptanceCriteriaToggle = async (
         index,
         checked,
     );
-    const previousChecklist = formatChecklistLines(
-        savedAcceptanceCriteria.value,
-    );
-    const nextChecklist = formatChecklistLines(nextAcceptanceCriteria);
     const csrfToken = document
         .querySelector('meta[name="csrf-token"]')
         ?.getAttribute('content');
@@ -488,36 +460,22 @@ const persistAcceptanceCriteriaToggle = async (
 
         savedAcceptanceCriteria.value = nextAcceptanceCriteria;
 
-        if (acceptanceCriteriaChecklist.value === previousChecklist) {
-            acceptanceCriteriaChecklist.value = nextChecklist;
-        }
+        acceptanceCriteriaItems.value = normalizeAcceptanceCriteria(
+            nextAcceptanceCriteria,
+        );
     } catch (_error) {
-        acceptanceCriteriaToggleError.value =
-            'Checklist status could not be saved right now.';
+        acceptanceCriteriaToggleError.value = t('criteria.saveError');
     } finally {
         isPersistingAcceptanceCriteriaToggle.value = false;
     }
 };
 
-const onAcceptanceCriteriaCheckboxChange = (
-    index: number,
-    event: Event,
-): void => {
-    const target = event.target;
-
-    if (!(target instanceof HTMLInputElement)) {
-        return;
-    }
-
-    void persistAcceptanceCriteriaToggle(index, target.checked);
-};
-
 const submit = (): void => {
-    if (!props.canEditTicket) {
+    if (!props.canEditTicket || isPersistingAcceptanceCriteriaToggle.value) {
         return;
     }
 
-    form.acceptance_criteria = buildAcceptanceCriteriaForSubmit();
+    form.acceptance_criteria = acceptanceCriteriaItems.value;
 
     protection.submit(
         ProjectTicketController.update({
@@ -530,7 +488,7 @@ const submit = (): void => {
                 savedAcceptanceCriteria.value = normalizeAcceptanceCriteria(
                     props.ticket.acceptance_criteria,
                 );
-                acceptanceCriteriaChecklist.value = formatChecklistLines(
+                acceptanceCriteriaItems.value = normalizeAcceptanceCriteria(
                     savedAcceptanceCriteria.value,
                 );
             },
@@ -807,92 +765,21 @@ const formatDateTime = (value: string): string => {
                                 />
                             </div>
 
-                            <div class="grid gap-4">
-                                <div class="grid gap-2">
-                                    <Label for="acceptance_criteria_checklist">
-                                        Acceptance criteria checklist
-                                    </Label>
-                                    <textarea
-                                        id="acceptance_criteria_checklist"
-                                        v-model="acceptanceCriteriaChecklist"
-                                        rows="5"
-                                        :disabled="
-                                            !canEditTicket || form.processing
-                                        "
-                                        class="border-input bg-background shadow-xs focus-visible:border-ring focus-visible:ring-ring/50 rounded-md border px-3 py-2 text-sm outline-none transition-[color,box-shadow] focus-visible:ring-[3px] disabled:cursor-not-allowed disabled:opacity-60"
-                                        placeholder="[ ] User can sign in&#10;  [x] Validation is shown for invalid credentials"
-                                    />
-                                    <p class="text-muted-foreground text-xs">
-                                        Use <code>[ ]</code> /
-                                        <code>[x]</code> for checklist items.
-                                        Indent with two spaces for nested steps.
-                                        Text changes are saved with the main
-                                        ticket update.
-                                    </p>
-                                    <p
-                                        v-if="hasUnsavedAcceptanceCriteriaDraft"
-                                        class="text-muted-foreground text-xs"
-                                    >
-                                        Save checklist text changes before
-                                        toggling completion directly.
-                                    </p>
-                                    <InputError
-                                        :message="acceptanceCriteriaError"
-                                    />
-                                    <InputError
-                                        :message="acceptanceCriteriaToggleError"
-                                    />
-                                </div>
-
-                                <div
-                                    v-if="
-                                        acceptanceCriteriaPreviewItems.length >
-                                        0
-                                    "
-                                    class="border-border rounded-xl border p-4 text-sm"
-                                >
-                                    <p class="mb-3 font-medium">
-                                        Saved checklist
-                                    </p>
-                                    <ul class="space-y-2">
-                                        <li
-                                            v-for="(
-                                                item, index
-                                            ) in acceptanceCriteriaPreviewItems"
-                                            :key="item.id ?? index"
-                                            :style="{
-                                                marginLeft: `${item.indent * 1.25}rem`,
-                                            }"
-                                            class="flex items-start gap-2"
-                                        >
-                                            <input
-                                                :id="`acceptance-criteria-${item.id ?? index}`"
-                                                :checked="item.checked"
-                                                type="checkbox"
-                                                :disabled="
-                                                    !canEditTicket ||
-                                                    form.processing ||
-                                                    isPersistingAcceptanceCriteriaToggle ||
-                                                    hasUnsavedAcceptanceCriteriaDraft
-                                                "
-                                                class="border-input text-primary focus:ring-ring mt-0.5 size-4 rounded"
-                                                @change="
-                                                    onAcceptanceCriteriaCheckboxChange(
-                                                        index,
-                                                        $event,
-                                                    )
-                                                "
-                                            />
-                                            <label
-                                                :for="`acceptance-criteria-${item.id ?? index}`"
-                                                class="flex-1"
-                                            >
-                                                {{ item.text }}
-                                            </label>
-                                        </li>
-                                    </ul>
-                                </div>
-                            </div>
+                            <AcceptanceCriteriaChecklist
+                                v-model="acceptanceCriteriaItems"
+                                :readonly="!canEditTicket"
+                                :disabled="
+                                    form.processing ||
+                                    isPersistingAcceptanceCriteriaToggle
+                                "
+                                persist-toggles
+                                :dirty="hasUnsavedAcceptanceCriteriaDraft"
+                                :error="
+                                    acceptanceCriteriaError ||
+                                    acceptanceCriteriaToggleError
+                                "
+                                @toggle="persistAcceptanceCriteriaToggle"
+                            />
 
                             <div
                                 class="border-border grid gap-3 rounded-xl border p-4"
@@ -1026,7 +913,10 @@ const formatDateTime = (value: string): string => {
                             >
                                 <Button
                                     type="submit"
-                                    :disabled="form.processing"
+                                    :disabled="
+                                        form.processing ||
+                                        isPersistingAcceptanceCriteriaToggle
+                                    "
                                 >
                                     Save changes
                                 </Button>
diff --git a/resources/js/pages/projects/TicketCreate.vue b/resources/js/pages/projects/TicketCreate.vue
index dcd85af..3a73763 100644
--- a/resources/js/pages/projects/TicketCreate.vue
+++ b/resources/js/pages/projects/TicketCreate.vue
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 <script setup lang="ts">
-import { Head, Link, useForm, useRemember } from '@inertiajs/vue3';
-import { computed, toRef, unref } from 'vue';
+import { Head, Link, useForm } from '@inertiajs/vue3';
+import { computed } from 'vue';
 import ProjectTicketController from '@/actions/App/Http/Controllers/ProjectTicketController';
 import Heading from '@/components/Heading.vue';
 import InputError from '@/components/InputError.vue';
@@ -18,10 +18,8 @@ import {
 import { Input } from '@/components/ui/input';
 import { Label } from '@/components/ui/label';
 import AppLayout from '@/layouts/AppLayout.vue';
-import {
-    buildAcceptanceCriteria,
-    parseChecklistLines,
-} from '@/lib/acceptance-criteria';
+import AcceptanceCriteriaChecklist from '@/components/tickets/AcceptanceCriteriaChecklist.vue';
+import type { AcceptanceCriteriaModel } from '@/types/models/acceptance-criteria-model';
 import { index as backlogIndex } from '@/routes/projects/backlog';
 import { index as boardIndex } from '@/routes/projects/board';
 import { index, show } from '@/routes/projects/index';
@@ -65,19 +63,8 @@ const hasTicketMetadata =
     props.ticketStatusOptions.length > 0;
 
 const draftKey = `projects:${props.project.id}:tickets:create`;
-const acceptanceCriteriaDraft = useRemember(
-    { checklist: '' },
-    `${draftKey}:checklist`,
-);
-const acceptanceCriteriaChecklist = toRef(
-    unref(acceptanceCriteriaDraft),
-    'checklist',
-);
-
 const form = useForm(draftKey, {
-    acceptance_criteria: buildAcceptanceCriteria(
-        acceptanceCriteriaChecklist.value,
-    ),
+    acceptance_criteria: [] as AcceptanceCriteriaModel,
     assignee_user_id: '',
     description: '',
     parent_ticket_id: '',
@@ -90,13 +77,7 @@ const form = useForm(draftKey, {
     title: '',
 });
 
-const protection = useFormProtection(form, {
-    isDirty: () => form.isDirty || acceptanceCriteriaChecklist.value !== '',
-});
-
-const acceptanceCriteriaPreviewItems = computed(() =>
-    parseChecklistLines(acceptanceCriteriaChecklist.value),
-);
+const protection = useFormProtection(form);
 
 const acceptanceCriteriaError = computed(() => {
     return (
@@ -109,10 +90,6 @@ const acceptanceCriteriaError = computed(() => {
 });
 
 const submit = (): void => {
-    form.acceptance_criteria = buildAcceptanceCriteria(
-        acceptanceCriteriaChecklist.value,
-    );
-
     protection.submit(
         ProjectTicketController.store({ project: props.project.id }),
         {
@@ -223,65 +200,11 @@ const ticketStatusLabel = (ticketStatus: TicketStatusModel): string => {
                                     />
                                 </div>
 
-                                <div class="grid gap-4">
-                                    <div class="grid gap-2">
-                                        <Label
-                                            for="acceptance_criteria_checklist"
-                                        >
-                                            Acceptance criteria checklist
-                                        </Label>
-                                        <textarea
-                                            id="acceptance_criteria_checklist"
-                                            v-model="
-                                                acceptanceCriteriaChecklist
-                                            "
-                                            rows="6"
-                                            :disabled="form.processing"
-                                            class="border-input bg-background shadow-xs focus-visible:border-ring focus-visible:ring-ring/50 rounded-md border px-3 py-2 text-sm outline-none transition-[color,box-shadow] focus-visible:ring-[3px] disabled:cursor-not-allowed disabled:opacity-60"
-                                            placeholder="[ ] User can sign in&#10;  [x] Validation is shown for invalid credentials"
-                                        />
-                                        <p
-                                            class="text-muted-foreground text-xs"
-                                        >
-                                            Use <code>[ ]</code> /
-                                            <code>[x]</code> for checklist
-                                            items. Indent with two spaces for
-                                            nested steps.
-                                        </p>
-                                        <InputError
-                                            :message="acceptanceCriteriaError"
-                                        />
-                                    </div>
-
-                                    <div
-                                        v-if="
-                                            acceptanceCriteriaPreviewItems.length >
-                                            0
-                                        "
-                                        class="border-border rounded-xl border p-4 text-sm"
-                                    >
-                                        <p class="mb-3 font-medium">
-                                            Checklist preview
-                                        </p>
-                                        <ul class="space-y-2">
-                                            <li
-                                                v-for="(
-                                                    item, index
-                                                ) in acceptanceCriteriaPreviewItems"
-                                                :key="index"
-                                                :style="{
-                                                    marginLeft: `${item.indent * 1.25}rem`,
-                                                }"
-                                                class="flex items-start gap-2"
-                                            >
-                                                <span class="mt-0.5">{{
-                                                    item.checked ? '☑' : '☐'
-                                                }}</span>
-                                                <span>{{ item.text }}</span>
-                                            </li>
-                                        </ul>
-                                    </div>
-                                </div>
+                                <AcceptanceCriteriaChecklist
+                                    v-model="form.acceptance_criteria"
+                                    :disabled="form.processing"
+                                    :error="acceptanceCriteriaError"
+                                />
                             </div>
 
                             <div class="grid h-fit gap-6">
diff --git a/tests/Feature/AcceptanceCriteriaChecklistTest.php b/tests/Feature/AcceptanceCriteriaChecklistTest.php
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..4521066
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/Feature/AcceptanceCriteriaChecklistTest.php
@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+<?php
+
+namespace Tests\Feature;
+
+use Symfony\Component\Process\Process;
+use Tests\TestCase;
+
+class AcceptanceCriteriaChecklistTest extends TestCase
+{
+    public function test_checklist_preserves_hierarchy_identity_and_accessible_controls(): void
+    {
+        $process = new Process(['node', 'tests/Fixtures/acceptance-criteria.mjs'], base_path());
+        $process->setTimeout(60);
+        $process->run();
+
+        $this->assertTrue($process->isSuccessful(), $process->getOutput().$process->getErrorOutput());
+        $this->assertStringContainsString('Acceptance criteria behavior checks passed.', $process->getOutput());
+    }
+}
diff --git a/tests/Fixtures/acceptance-criteria-browser.mjs b/tests/Fixtures/acceptance-criteria-browser.mjs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..5418802
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/Fixtures/acceptance-criteria-browser.mjs
@@ -0,0 +1,174 @@
+import assert from 'node:assert/strict';
+import process from 'node:process';
+const { chromium } = await import(
+    process.env.PLAYWRIGHT_MODULE ?? 'playwright'
+);
+const browser = await chromium.launch({ channel: 'chrome', headless: true });
+const base = 'http://127.0.0.1:4176';
+const context = await browser.newContext({
+    viewport: { width: 1280, height: 900 },
+    hasTouch: true,
+});
+const page = await context.newPage();
+page.setDefaultTimeout(10000);
+page.on('dialog', (dialog) => dialog.accept());
+const errors = [];
+page.on('pageerror', (error) => errors.push(error.message));
+const checklist = () =>
+    page.getByRole('region', { name: 'Acceptance criteria' });
+const field = (number) =>
+    page.getByRole('textbox', { name: `Criterion ${number}`, exact: true });
+const button = (name) => page.getByRole('button', { name, exact: true });
+const setResult = (value) =>
+    context.addCookies([{ name: 'feedback_test_result', value, url: base }]);
+const waitState = (value) =>
+    page.locator(`[data-form-state="${value}"]`).first().waitFor();
+const save = async () => {
+    await button('Save changes').click();
+    await waitState('success');
+};
+try {
+    await page.goto(`${base}/projects/7/tickets/31`);
+    await checklist().waitFor();
+    const boxes = checklist().getByRole('checkbox');
+    await setResult('server');
+    await boxes.first().focus();
+    await page.keyboard.press('Space');
+    await page
+        .getByText('Checklist status could not be saved. Please try again.')
+        .waitFor();
+    assert.equal(
+        await boxes.first().isChecked(),
+        false,
+        'Failure must restore saved checkbox',
+    );
+    await setResult('success');
+    let payload;
+    page.on('request', (request) => {
+        if (request.method() === 'PATCH') {
+            payload = request.postDataJSON();
+        }
+    });
+    await boxes.first().tap();
+    await page.waitForFunction(
+        () =>
+            document.querySelectorAll('section[aria-busy="true"]').length === 0,
+    );
+    await page.getByText('3 of 4 complete').waitFor();
+    assert.deepEqual(
+        payload.acceptance_criteria.map((item) => item.checked),
+        [true, true, true, false],
+    );
+    assert.deepEqual(
+        payload.acceptance_criteria.map((item) => item.id),
+        [11, 12, 13, 14],
+    );
+    await button('Edit checklist').click();
+    await field(2).fill('Edited child');
+    await field(2).press('Alt+ArrowLeft');
+    assert.deepEqual(
+        await checklist()
+            .locator('li')
+            .evaluateAll((items) =>
+                items.map((item) => Number(item.dataset.indent)),
+            ),
+        [0, 0, 1, 0],
+    );
+    await button('Indent criterion 2').tap();
+    await button('Remove criterion 1').tap();
+    assert.equal(await field(1).inputValue(), 'Edited child');
+    assert.equal(
+        await field(1).evaluate((el) => el === document.activeElement),
+        true,
+    );
+    await button('Add criterion').focus();
+    await page.keyboard.press('Enter');
+    assert.equal(
+        await field(4).evaluate((el) => el === document.activeElement),
+        true,
+    );
+    await field(4).fill('New criterion');
+    await button('Indent criterion 4').click();
+    await setResult('validation');
+    await button('Save changes').click();
+    await waitState('validation');
+    assert.equal(await field(1).inputValue(), 'Edited child');
+    await setResult('success');
+    await save();
+    assert.deepEqual(
+        payload.acceptance_criteria.map((item) => item.id),
+        [12, 13, 14, undefined],
+    );
+    assert.deepEqual(
+        payload.acceptance_criteria.map((item) => item.indent),
+        [0, 1, 0, 1],
+    );
+    await page.reload();
+    await button('Edit checklist').click();
+    assert.equal(await field(1).inputValue(), 'Edited child');
+    assert.equal(await field(4).inputValue(), 'New criterion');
+    // Blank/whitespace text cannot silently delete a persisted criterion.
+    await field(1).fill('   ');
+    assert.equal(await field(1).evaluate((el) => el.checkValidity()), false);
+    assert.equal(await button('Preview checklist').isDisabled(), true);
+    await field(1).fill('Edited child');
+    for (const width of [1280, 390, 320]) {
+        await page.setViewportSize({ width, height: 900 });
+        for (const theme of ['light', 'dark']) {
+            await page.emulateMedia({ colorScheme: theme });
+            await page.evaluate(
+                (theme) =>
+                    document.documentElement.classList.toggle(
+                        'dark',
+                        theme === 'dark',
+                    ),
+                theme,
+            );
+            assert.equal(
+                await checklist().evaluate(
+                    (el) => el.scrollWidth <= el.clientWidth,
+                ),
+                true,
+            );
+            await checklist().screenshot({
+                path: `/private/tmp/kan32-checklist-${width}-${theme}.png`,
+            });
+            await button('Outdent criterion 4').tap();
+            await button('Indent criterion 4').tap();
+        }
+    }
+    await page.goto(`${base}/projects/7/tickets/31?readonly=1`);
+    await checklist().waitFor();
+    assert.equal(await checklist().getByRole('textbox').count(), 0);
+    assert.equal(await checklist().getByRole('button').count(), 0);
+    assert.equal(
+        await checklist().getByRole('checkbox').first().isDisabled(),
+        true,
+    );
+    await page.goto(`${base}/projects/7/tickets/create`);
+    await page.locator('#title').fill('Created with criteria');
+    for (const text of ['First', 'Second']) {
+        await button('Add criterion').click();
+        await page.locator('textarea').last().fill(text);
+    }
+    await button('Indent criterion 2').tap();
+    await checklist().getByRole('checkbox').first().focus();
+    await page.keyboard.press('Space');
+    const request = page.waitForRequest(
+        (request) =>
+            request.method() === 'POST' && request.url().endsWith('/tickets'),
+    );
+    await button('Create ticket').click();
+    const created = (await request).postDataJSON();
+    assert.deepEqual(created.acceptance_criteria, [
+        { text: 'First', checked: true, indent: 0 },
+        { text: 'Second', checked: true, indent: 1 },
+    ]);
+    await page.getByRole('heading', { name: 'Destination' }).waitFor();
+    assert.deepEqual(errors, []);
+    console.log(
+        'Acceptance criteria browser checks passed: persistence, errors, keyboard, touch, readonly, creation, mobile and themes.',
+    );
+} finally {
+    await browser.close();
+}
diff --git a/tests/Fixtures/acceptance-criteria.mjs b/tests/Fixtures/acceptance-criteria.mjs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..74f1cf0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/Fixtures/acceptance-criteria.mjs
@@ -0,0 +1,102 @@
+import assert from 'node:assert/strict';
+import { fileURLToPath } from 'node:url';
+import vue from '@vitejs/plugin-vue';
+import { createServer } from 'vite';
+import { createSSRApp, h } from 'vue';
+import { renderToString } from 'vue/server-renderer';
+
+const server = await createServer({
+    configFile: false,
+    plugins: [vue()],
+    resolve: {
+        alias: {
+            '@': fileURLToPath(new URL('../../resources/js', import.meta.url)),
+        },
+    },
+    server: { middlewareMode: true, hmr: false, watch: null },
+});
+try {
+    const {
+        canIndentAcceptanceCriterion: canIndent,
+        indentAcceptanceCriterion: indent,
+        removeAcceptanceCriterion: remove,
+        syncAcceptanceCriteriaDescendantCheckedState: toggle,
+        normalizeAcceptanceCriteria: normalize,
+    } = await server.ssrLoadModule('/resources/js/lib/acceptance-criteria.ts');
+    const items = [
+        { id: 11, text: 'Parent', indent: 0, checked: false },
+        { id: 12, text: 'Child', indent: 1, checked: true },
+        { id: 13, text: 'Grandchild', indent: 2, checked: false },
+        { id: 14, text: 'Next', indent: 0, checked: false },
+    ];
+    const original = structuredClone(items);
+    assert.equal(canIndent(items, 0), false);
+    assert.equal(canIndent(items, 1), false);
+    assert.equal(canIndent(items, 3), true);
+    assert.deepEqual(
+        indent(items, 1, -1).map((item) => item.indent),
+        [0, 0, 1, 0],
+    );
+    assert.deepEqual(indent(indent(items, 1, -1), 1, 1), items);
+    assert.deepEqual(indent(items, 0, -1), items);
+    assert.deepEqual(indent(items, -1, 1), items);
+    assert.deepEqual(remove(items, 0), [
+        { ...items[1], indent: 0 },
+        { ...items[2], indent: 1 },
+        items[3],
+    ]);
+    assert.deepEqual(remove(items, 1), [
+        items[0],
+        { ...items[2], indent: 1 },
+        items[3],
+    ]);
+    assert.deepEqual(remove(items, 99), items);
+    assert.deepEqual(
+        toggle(items, 0, true).map((item) => item.checked),
+        [true, true, true, false],
+    );
+    assert.deepEqual(
+        toggle(items, 1, false).map((item) => item.checked),
+        [false, false, false, false],
+    );
+    const deep = Array.from({ length: 9 }, (_, indent) => ({
+        text: 'Deep',
+        checked: false,
+        indent,
+    }));
+    assert.equal(
+        canIndent([{ text: 'Before', indent: 0, checked: false }, ...deep], 1),
+        false,
+    );
+    assert.deepEqual(
+        normalize(remove(items, 0)).map((item) => item.id),
+        [12, 13, 14],
+    );
+    assert.deepEqual(items, original, 'Editing must not mutate saved criteria');
+    const { default: Checklist } = await server.ssrLoadModule(
+        '/resources/js/components/tickets/AcceptanceCriteriaChecklist.vue',
+    );
+    const { createLocalization } = await server.ssrLoadModule(
+        '/resources/js/lib/localization.ts',
+    );
+    const render = (props) =>
+        renderToString(
+            createSSRApp({ render: () => h(Checklist, props) }).use(
+                createLocalization(),
+            ),
+        );
+    const editable = await render({ modelValue: items });
+    assert.equal((editable.match(/<textarea/g) ?? []).length, 4);
+    assert.match(editable, /Indent criterion 4/);
+    assert.match(editable, /1 of 4 complete/);
+    const readonly = await render({ modelValue: items, readonly: true });
+    assert.doesNotMatch(readonly, /<textarea|Add criterion|Edit checklist/);
+    assert.equal((readonly.match(/type="checkbox" disabled/g) ?? []).length, 4);
+    assert.match(
+        await render({ modelValue: [], error: 'Server validation' }),
+        /Server validation/,
+    );
+    console.log('Acceptance criteria behavior checks passed.');
+} finally {
+    await server.close();
+}
diff --git a/tests/Fixtures/feedback-browser.mjs b/tests/Fixtures/feedback-browser.mjs
index e46bb1b..778b445 100644
--- a/tests/Fixtures/feedback-browser.mjs
+++ b/tests/Fixtures/feedback-browser.mjs
@@ -320,15 +320,18 @@ try {
     await page.goto(`${base}/projects/7/tickets/create`);
     await page.locator('#title').fill('New ticket draft');
     await page.locator('#description').fill('Keep this description');
+    await page.getByRole('button', { name: 'Add criterion' }).click();
     await page
-        .locator('#acceptance_criteria_checklist')
-        .fill('[ ] Keep this checklist');
+        .getByRole('textbox', { name: 'Criterion 1', exact: true })
+        .fill('Keep this checklist');
     await setResult('validation');
     await page.locator('form button[type="submit"]').first().click();
     await state('validation');
     assert.equal(
-        await page.locator('#acceptance_criteria_checklist').inputValue(),
-        '[ ] Keep this checklist',
+        await page
+            .getByRole('textbox', { name: 'Criterion 1', exact: true })
+            .inputValue(),
+        'Keep this checklist',
     );
     await page.route('**/projects/7/tickets', (route) => route.abort('failed'));
     await page.locator('form button[type="submit"]').first().click();
@@ -349,8 +352,10 @@ try {
     await page.locator('#title').waitFor();
     assert.equal(await page.locator('#title').inputValue(), 'New ticket draft');
     assert.equal(
-        await page.locator('#acceptance_criteria_checklist').inputValue(),
-        '[ ] Keep this checklist',
+        await page
+            .getByRole('textbox', { name: 'Criterion 1', exact: true })
+            .inputValue(),
+        'Keep this checklist',
     );
     await setResult('success');
     await page.locator('form button[type="submit"]').first().click();
@@ -358,9 +363,11 @@ try {
 
     await page.goto(`${base}/projects/7/tickets/31`);
     await page.locator('#title').fill('Updated ticket draft');
+    await page.getByRole('button', { name: 'Edit checklist' }).click();
+    await page.getByRole('button', { name: 'Add criterion' }).click();
     await page
-        .locator('#acceptance_criteria_checklist')
-        .fill('[ ] Edited checklist');
+        .getByRole('textbox', { name: 'Criterion 1', exact: true })
+        .fill('Edited checklist');
     await setResult('server');
     await page.locator('form button[type="submit"]').first().click();
     await state('server');
@@ -369,8 +376,10 @@ try {
         'Updated ticket draft',
     );
     assert.equal(
-        await page.locator('#acceptance_criteria_checklist').inputValue(),
-        '[ ] Edited checklist',
+        await page
+            .getByRole('textbox', { name: 'Criterion 1', exact: true })
+            .inputValue(),
+        'Edited checklist',
     );
     await setResult('success');
     await page.getByRole('button', { name: 'Try again' }).click();
diff --git a/tests/Fixtures/feedback-server.mjs b/tests/Fixtures/feedback-server.mjs
index 688cab6..adf1441 100644
--- a/tests/Fixtures/feedback-server.mjs
+++ b/tests/Fixtures/feedback-server.mjs
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 import { fileURLToPath } from 'node:url';
+import process from 'node:process';
 import vue from '@vitejs/plugin-vue';
 import tailwind from '@tailwindcss/vite';
 import { createServer } from 'vite';
@@ -36,7 +37,19 @@ let ticket = {
     ticket_status: status,
     is_blocked: false,
     story_points: 0,
-    acceptance_criteria: [],
+    acceptance_criteria: process.env.CRITERIA_FIXTURE
+        ? [
+              { id: 11, text: 'Parent criterion', indent: 0, checked: false },
+              { id: 12, text: 'Nested criterion', indent: 1, checked: true },
+              { id: 13, text: 'Deep criterion', indent: 2, checked: false },
+              {
+                  id: 14,
+                  text: 'Independent criterion',
+                  indent: 0,
+                  checked: false,
+              },
+          ]
+        : [],
     field_values: [],
     worklog_entries: [],
 };
@@ -123,7 +136,7 @@ server.middlewares.use(async (request, response, next) => {
             ticketStatusOptions: [status],
             users: [],
             parentTicketOptions: [],
-            canEditTicket: true,
+            canEditTicket: !url.searchParams.has('readonly'),
             canManageProject: true,
             childTicketTree: [],
             linkedTickets: [],