diff --git a/lib/membership/setting.ex b/lib/membership/setting.ex
index 4ba0794..862f4ac 100644
--- a/lib/membership/setting.ex
+++ b/lib/membership/setting.ex
@@ -155,12 +155,23 @@ defmodule Mv.Membership.Setting do
              on: [:create, :update]
 
     # Validate default_membership_fee_type_id exists if set
-    validate fn changeset, _context ->
+    validate fn changeset, context ->
                fee_type_id =
                  Ash.Changeset.get_attribute(changeset, :default_membership_fee_type_id)
 
                if fee_type_id do
-                 case Ash.get(Mv.MembershipFees.MembershipFeeType, fee_type_id) do
+                 # Actor may be in changeset.context (action context) or validation context
+                 ctx = changeset.context || %{}
+
+                 actor =
+                   get_in(ctx, [:private, :actor]) ||
+                     Map.get(ctx, :actor) ||
+                     (context && Map.get(context, :actor))
+
+                 # Check existence only; action is already restricted by policy (e.g. admin).
+                 opts = [domain: Mv.MembershipFees, authorize?: false]
+
+                 case Ash.get(Mv.MembershipFees.MembershipFeeType, fee_type_id, opts) do
                    {:ok, _} ->
                      :ok
 
diff --git a/lib/membership_fees/changes/set_membership_fee_start_date.ex b/lib/membership_fees/changes/set_membership_fee_start_date.ex
index a2e1ad0..0e9cf00 100644
--- a/lib/membership_fees/changes/set_membership_fee_start_date.ex
+++ b/lib/membership_fees/changes/set_membership_fee_start_date.ex
@@ -31,12 +31,12 @@ defmodule Mv.MembershipFees.Changes.SetMembershipFeeStartDate do
   alias Mv.MembershipFees.CalendarCycles
 
   @impl true
-  def change(changeset, _opts, _context) do
+  def change(changeset, _opts, context) do
     # Only calculate if membership_fee_start_date is not already set
     if has_start_date?(changeset) do
       changeset
     else
-      calculate_and_set_start_date(changeset)
+      calculate_and_set_start_date(changeset, context)
     end
   end
 
@@ -56,10 +56,13 @@ defmodule Mv.MembershipFees.Changes.SetMembershipFeeStartDate do
     end
   end
 
-  defp calculate_and_set_start_date(changeset) do
+  defp calculate_and_set_start_date(changeset, context) do
+    actor = Map.get(context || %{}, :actor)
+    opts = if actor, do: [actor: actor], else: []
+
     with {:ok, join_date} <- get_join_date(changeset),
          {:ok, membership_fee_type_id} <- get_membership_fee_type_id(changeset),
-         {:ok, interval} <- get_interval(membership_fee_type_id),
+         {:ok, interval} <- get_interval(membership_fee_type_id, opts),
          {:ok, include_joining_cycle} <- get_include_joining_cycle() do
       start_date = calculate_start_date(join_date, interval, include_joining_cycle)
       Ash.Changeset.force_change_attribute(changeset, :membership_fee_start_date, start_date)
@@ -118,8 +121,8 @@ defmodule Mv.MembershipFees.Changes.SetMembershipFeeStartDate do
     end
   end
 
-  defp get_interval(membership_fee_type_id) do
-    case Ash.get(Mv.MembershipFees.MembershipFeeType, membership_fee_type_id) do
+  defp get_interval(membership_fee_type_id, opts) do
+    case Ash.get(Mv.MembershipFees.MembershipFeeType, membership_fee_type_id, opts) do
       {:ok, %{interval: interval}} -> {:ok, interval}
       {:error, _} -> {:error, :membership_fee_type_not_found}
     end
diff --git a/lib/membership_fees/changes/validate_same_interval.ex b/lib/membership_fees/changes/validate_same_interval.ex
index 8c1efb4..0ad32a1 100644
--- a/lib/membership_fees/changes/validate_same_interval.ex
+++ b/lib/membership_fees/changes/validate_same_interval.ex
@@ -19,9 +19,9 @@ defmodule Mv.MembershipFees.Changes.ValidateSameInterval do
   use Ash.Resource.Change
 
   @impl true
-  def change(changeset, _opts, _context) do
+  def change(changeset, _opts, context) do
     if changing_membership_fee_type?(changeset) do
-      validate_interval_match(changeset)
+      validate_interval_match(changeset, context)
     else
       changeset
     end
@@ -33,9 +33,10 @@ defmodule Mv.MembershipFees.Changes.ValidateSameInterval do
   end
 
   # Validate that the new type has the same interval as the current type
-  defp validate_interval_match(changeset) do
+  defp validate_interval_match(changeset, context) do
     current_type_id = get_current_type_id(changeset)
     new_type_id = get_new_type_id(changeset)
+    actor = Map.get(context || %{}, :actor)
 
     cond do
       # If no current type, allow any change (first assignment)
@@ -48,13 +49,13 @@ defmodule Mv.MembershipFees.Changes.ValidateSameInterval do
 
       # Both types exist - validate intervals match
       true ->
-        validate_intervals_match(changeset, current_type_id, new_type_id)
+        validate_intervals_match(changeset, current_type_id, new_type_id, actor)
     end
   end
 
   # Validates that intervals match when both types exist
-  defp validate_intervals_match(changeset, current_type_id, new_type_id) do
-    case get_intervals(current_type_id, new_type_id) do
+  defp validate_intervals_match(changeset, current_type_id, new_type_id, actor) do
+    case get_intervals(current_type_id, new_type_id, actor) do
       {:ok, current_interval, new_interval} ->
         if current_interval == new_interval do
           changeset
@@ -85,11 +86,16 @@ defmodule Mv.MembershipFees.Changes.ValidateSameInterval do
     end
   end
 
-  # Get intervals for both types
-  defp get_intervals(current_type_id, new_type_id) do
+  # Get intervals for both types (actor required for authorization when resource has policies)
+  defp get_intervals(current_type_id, new_type_id, actor) do
     alias Mv.MembershipFees.MembershipFeeType
 
-    case {Ash.get(MembershipFeeType, current_type_id), Ash.get(MembershipFeeType, new_type_id)} do
+    opts = if actor, do: [actor: actor], else: []
+
+    case {
+      Ash.get(MembershipFeeType, current_type_id, opts),
+      Ash.get(MembershipFeeType, new_type_id, opts)
+    } do
       {{:ok, current_type}, {:ok, new_type}} ->
         {:ok, current_type.interval, new_type.interval}
 
diff --git a/lib/mv/accounts/user/validations/email_not_used_by_other_member.ex b/lib/mv/accounts/user/validations/email_not_used_by_other_member.ex
index 0e693e1..72cc10c 100644
--- a/lib/mv/accounts/user/validations/email_not_used_by_other_member.ex
+++ b/lib/mv/accounts/user/validations/email_not_used_by_other_member.ex
@@ -81,7 +81,7 @@ defmodule Mv.Accounts.User.Validations.EmailNotUsedByOtherMember do
     query =
       Mv.Membership.Member
       |> Ash.Query.filter(email == ^to_string(email))
-      |> maybe_exclude_id(exclude_member_id)
+      |> Mv.Helpers.query_exclude_id(exclude_member_id)
 
     system_actor = SystemActor.get_system_actor()
     opts = Helpers.ash_actor_opts(system_actor)
@@ -101,7 +101,4 @@ defmodule Mv.Accounts.User.Validations.EmailNotUsedByOtherMember do
         :ok
     end
   end
-
-  defp maybe_exclude_id(query, nil), do: query
-  defp maybe_exclude_id(query, id), do: Ash.Query.filter(query, id != ^id)
 end
diff --git a/lib/mv/email_sync/changes/sync_user_email_to_member.ex b/lib/mv/email_sync/changes/sync_user_email_to_member.ex
index eb6770c..624692b 100644
--- a/lib/mv/email_sync/changes/sync_user_email_to_member.ex
+++ b/lib/mv/email_sync/changes/sync_user_email_to_member.ex
@@ -27,6 +27,10 @@ defmodule Mv.EmailSync.Changes.SyncUserEmailToMember do
   Modified changeset with email synchronization applied, or original changeset
   if recursion detected.
   """
+  # Ash 3.12+ calls this to decide whether to run the change in certain contexts.
+  @impl true
+  def has_change?, do: true
+
   @impl true
   def change(changeset, _opts, context) do
     # Only recursion protection needed - trigger logic is in `where` clauses
diff --git a/lib/mv/helpers.ex b/lib/mv/helpers.ex
index e20db67..ae22e13 100644
--- a/lib/mv/helpers.ex
+++ b/lib/mv/helpers.ex
@@ -5,6 +5,8 @@ defmodule Mv.Helpers do
   Provides utilities that are not specific to a single domain or layer.
   """
 
+  require Ash.Query
+
   @doc """
   Converts an actor to Ash options list for authorization.
   Returns empty list if actor is nil.
@@ -24,4 +26,22 @@ defmodule Mv.Helpers do
   @spec ash_actor_opts(Mv.Accounts.User.t() | nil) :: keyword()
   def ash_actor_opts(nil), do: []
   def ash_actor_opts(actor) when not is_nil(actor), do: [actor: actor]
+
+  @doc """
+  Returns the query unchanged if `exclude_id` is nil; otherwise adds a filter `id != ^exclude_id`.
+
+  Used in uniqueness validations that must exclude the current record (e.g. name uniqueness
+  on update, duplicate association checks). Call with the record's primary key to exclude it
+  from the result set.
+
+  ## Examples
+
+      query
+      |> Ash.Query.filter(name == ^name)
+      |> Mv.Helpers.query_exclude_id(current_id)
+
+  """
+  @spec query_exclude_id(Ash.Query.t(), String.t() | nil) :: Ash.Query.t()
+  def query_exclude_id(query, nil), do: query
+  def query_exclude_id(query, id), do: Ash.Query.filter(query, id != ^id)
 end
diff --git a/lib/mv/membership/member/validations/email_not_used_by_other_user.ex b/lib/mv/membership/member/validations/email_not_used_by_other_user.ex
index 1ee8ab0..1297515 100644
--- a/lib/mv/membership/member/validations/email_not_used_by_other_user.ex
+++ b/lib/mv/membership/member/validations/email_not_used_by_other_user.ex
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@ defmodule Mv.Membership.Member.Validations.EmailNotUsedByOtherUser do
     query =
       Mv.Accounts.User
       |> Ash.Query.filter(email == ^email)
-      |> maybe_exclude_id(exclude_user_id)
+      |> Mv.Helpers.query_exclude_id(exclude_user_id)
 
     system_actor = SystemActor.get_system_actor()
     opts = Helpers.ash_actor_opts(system_actor)
@@ -76,7 +76,4 @@ defmodule Mv.Membership.Member.Validations.EmailNotUsedByOtherUser do
         :ok
     end
   end
-
-  defp maybe_exclude_id(query, nil), do: query
-  defp maybe_exclude_id(query, id), do: Ash.Query.filter(query, id != ^id)
 end
diff --git a/priv/repo/seeds.exs b/priv/repo/seeds.exs
index 4240336..579b7cc 100644
--- a/priv/repo/seeds.exs
+++ b/priv/repo/seeds.exs
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ alias Mv.MembershipFees.CycleGenerator
 
 require Ash.Query
 
-# Create example membership fee types
+# Create example membership fee types (no admin user yet; skip authorization for bootstrap)
 for fee_type_attrs <- [
       %{
         name: "Standard (Jährlich)",
@@ -39,7 +39,12 @@ for fee_type_attrs <- [
     ] do
   MembershipFeeType
   |> Ash.Changeset.for_create(:create, fee_type_attrs)
-  |> Ash.create!(upsert?: true, upsert_identity: :unique_name)
+  |> Ash.create!(
+    upsert?: true,
+    upsert_identity: :unique_name,
+    authorize?: false,
+    domain: Mv.MembershipFees
+  )
 end
 
 for attrs <- [
@@ -299,12 +304,12 @@ case Accounts.User
     IO.puts("SystemActor will fall back to admin user (#{admin_email})")
 end
 
-# Load all membership fee types for assignment
+# Load all membership fee types for assignment (admin actor for authorization)
 # Sort by name to ensure deterministic order
 all_fee_types =
   MembershipFeeType
   |> Ash.Query.sort(name: :asc)
-  |> Ash.read!()
+  |> Ash.read!(actor: admin_user_with_role, domain: Mv.MembershipFees)
   |> Enum.to_list()
 
 # Create sample members for testing - use upsert to prevent duplicates
diff --git a/test/membership/membership_fee_settings_test.exs b/test/membership/membership_fee_settings_test.exs
index 744b6bd..2c126d9 100644
--- a/test/membership/membership_fee_settings_test.exs
+++ b/test/membership/membership_fee_settings_test.exs
@@ -54,18 +54,26 @@ defmodule Mv.Membership.MembershipFeeSettingsTest do
 
       # Create a valid fee type
       {:ok, fee_type} =
-        Ash.create(MembershipFeeType, %{
-          name: "Test Fee Type #{System.unique_integer([:positive])}",
-          amount: Decimal.new("100.00"),
-          interval: :yearly
-        })
+        Ash.create(
+          MembershipFeeType,
+          %{
+            name: "Test Fee Type #{System.unique_integer([:positive])}",
+            amount: Decimal.new("100.00"),
+            interval: :yearly
+          },
+          actor: actor
+        )
 
       # Setting a valid fee type should work
       {:ok, updated} =
         settings
-        |> Ash.Changeset.for_update(:update_membership_fee_settings, %{
-          default_membership_fee_type_id: fee_type.id
-        })
+        |> Ash.Changeset.for_update(
+          :update_membership_fee_settings,
+          %{
+            default_membership_fee_type_id: fee_type.id
+          },
+          actor: actor
+        )
         |> Ash.update(actor: actor)
 
       assert updated.default_membership_fee_type_id == fee_type.id
diff --git a/test/membership_fees/changes/validate_same_interval_test.exs b/test/membership_fees/changes/validate_same_interval_test.exs
index 21287dd..2310537 100644
--- a/test/membership_fees/changes/validate_same_interval_test.exs
+++ b/test/membership_fees/changes/validate_same_interval_test.exs
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ defmodule Mv.MembershipFees.Changes.ValidateSameIntervalTest do
         |> Ash.Changeset.for_update(:update_member, %{membership_fee_type_id: yearly_type2.id},
           actor: actor
         )
-        |> ValidateSameInterval.change(%{}, %{})
+        |> ValidateSameInterval.change(%{}, %{actor: actor})
 
       assert changeset.valid?
     end
@@ -68,7 +68,7 @@ defmodule Mv.MembershipFees.Changes.ValidateSameIntervalTest do
         |> Ash.Changeset.for_update(:update_member, %{membership_fee_type_id: monthly_type.id},
           actor: actor
         )
-        |> ValidateSameInterval.change(%{}, %{})
+        |> ValidateSameInterval.change(%{}, %{actor: actor})
 
       refute changeset.valid?
       assert %{errors: errors} = changeset
@@ -90,7 +90,7 @@ defmodule Mv.MembershipFees.Changes.ValidateSameIntervalTest do
         |> Ash.Changeset.for_update(:update_member, %{membership_fee_type_id: yearly_type.id},
           actor: actor
         )
-        |> ValidateSameInterval.change(%{}, %{})
+        |> ValidateSameInterval.change(%{}, %{actor: actor})
 
       assert changeset.valid?
     end
@@ -102,7 +102,7 @@ defmodule Mv.MembershipFees.Changes.ValidateSameIntervalTest do
       changeset =
         member
         |> Ash.Changeset.for_update(:update_member, %{membership_fee_type_id: nil}, actor: actor)
-        |> ValidateSameInterval.change(%{}, %{})
+        |> ValidateSameInterval.change(%{}, %{actor: actor})
 
       refute changeset.valid?
       assert %{errors: errors} = changeset
@@ -120,7 +120,7 @@ defmodule Mv.MembershipFees.Changes.ValidateSameIntervalTest do
       changeset =
         member
         |> Ash.Changeset.for_update(:update_member, %{first_name: "New Name"}, actor: actor)
-        |> ValidateSameInterval.change(%{}, %{})
+        |> ValidateSameInterval.change(%{}, %{actor: actor})
 
       assert changeset.valid?
     end
@@ -136,7 +136,7 @@ defmodule Mv.MembershipFees.Changes.ValidateSameIntervalTest do
         |> Ash.Changeset.for_update(:update_member, %{membership_fee_type_id: quarterly_type.id},
           actor: actor
         )
-        |> ValidateSameInterval.change(%{}, %{})
+        |> ValidateSameInterval.change(%{}, %{actor: actor})
 
       error = Enum.find(changeset.errors, &(&1.field == :membership_fee_type_id))
       assert error.message =~ "yearly"
@@ -175,7 +175,7 @@ defmodule Mv.MembershipFees.Changes.ValidateSameIntervalTest do
           |> Ash.Changeset.for_update(:update_member, %{membership_fee_type_id: type2.id},
             actor: actor
           )
-          |> ValidateSameInterval.change(%{}, %{})
+          |> ValidateSameInterval.change(%{}, %{actor: actor})
 
         refute changeset.valid?,
                "Should prevent change from #{interval1} to #{interval2}"
diff --git a/test/membership_fees/membership_fee_cycle_test.exs b/test/membership_fees/membership_fee_cycle_test.exs
index fefc838..8770134 100644
--- a/test/membership_fees/membership_fee_cycle_test.exs
+++ b/test/membership_fees/membership_fee_cycle_test.exs
@@ -151,7 +151,7 @@ defmodule Mv.MembershipFees.MembershipFeeCycleTest do
       member = create_member(%{membership_fee_type_id: fee_type.id}, actor)
       cycle = create_cycle(member, fee_type, %{status: :paid}, actor)
 
-      assert {:ok, updated} = Ash.update(cycle, %{}, action: :mark_as_unpaid)
+      assert {:ok, updated} = Ash.update(cycle, %{}, actor: actor, action: :mark_as_unpaid)
       assert updated.status == :unpaid
     end
 
@@ -175,7 +175,7 @@ defmodule Mv.MembershipFees.MembershipFeeCycleTest do
       member = create_member(%{membership_fee_type_id: fee_type.id}, actor)
       cycle = create_cycle(member, fee_type, %{status: :suspended}, actor)
 
-      assert {:ok, updated} = Ash.update(cycle, %{}, action: :mark_as_unpaid)
+      assert {:ok, updated} = Ash.update(cycle, %{}, actor: actor, action: :mark_as_unpaid)
       assert updated.status == :unpaid
     end
   end
diff --git a/test/membership_fees/membership_fee_type_integration_test.exs b/test/membership_fees/membership_fee_type_integration_test.exs
index e716b42..88f620d 100644
--- a/test/membership_fees/membership_fee_type_integration_test.exs
+++ b/test/membership_fees/membership_fee_type_integration_test.exs
@@ -155,9 +155,13 @@ defmodule Mv.MembershipFees.MembershipFeeTypeIntegrationTest do
       {:ok, settings} = Mv.Membership.get_settings()
 
       settings
-      |> Ash.Changeset.for_update(:update_membership_fee_settings, %{
-        default_membership_fee_type_id: fee_type.id
-      })
+      |> Ash.Changeset.for_update(
+        :update_membership_fee_settings,
+        %{
+          default_membership_fee_type_id: fee_type.id
+        },
+        actor: actor
+      )
       |> Ash.update!(actor: actor)
 
       # Try to delete
@@ -176,9 +180,13 @@ defmodule Mv.MembershipFees.MembershipFeeTypeIntegrationTest do
       {:ok, settings} = Mv.Membership.get_settings()
 
       settings
-      |> Ash.Changeset.for_update(:update_membership_fee_settings, %{
-        default_membership_fee_type_id: fee_type.id
-      })
+      |> Ash.Changeset.for_update(
+        :update_membership_fee_settings,
+        %{
+          default_membership_fee_type_id: fee_type.id
+        },
+        actor: actor
+      )
       |> Ash.update!(actor: actor)
 
       # Create a member without explicitly setting membership_fee_type_id
diff --git a/test/membership_fees/membership_fee_type_test.exs b/test/membership_fees/membership_fee_type_test.exs
index 80b7839..7b6c39a 100644
--- a/test/membership_fees/membership_fee_type_test.exs
+++ b/test/membership_fees/membership_fee_type_test.exs
@@ -264,9 +264,13 @@ defmodule Mv.MembershipFees.MembershipFeeTypeTest do
       {:ok, settings} = Mv.Membership.get_settings()
 
       settings
-      |> Ash.Changeset.for_update(:update_membership_fee_settings, %{
-        default_membership_fee_type_id: fee_type.id
-      })
+      |> Ash.Changeset.for_update(
+        :update_membership_fee_settings,
+        %{
+          default_membership_fee_type_id: fee_type.id
+        },
+        actor: actor
+      )
       |> Ash.update!(actor: actor)
 
       # Try to delete