diff --git a/docs/contracts/admin.md b/docs/contracts/admin.md
index d8e14c49..28d069ef 100644
--- a/docs/contracts/admin.md
+++ b/docs/contracts/admin.md
@@ -85,3 +85,51 @@ To keep admin transfer safety regressions visible while legacy modules are still
 - Report generation: `cargo llvm-cov --lib --lcov --output-path coverage/lcov.info`
 - Admin gate: `scripts/check-admin-coverage.sh coverage/lcov.info`
 - Minimum required: `95%` line coverage (`ADMIN_COVERAGE_MIN`, default `95`)
+
+## `verify_admin_handover` helper
+
+`AdminStorage::verify_admin_handover(env, proposed)` is a **pure, read-only** validation helper.
+
+### Purpose
+
+Callers (operators, downstream contracts, frontend integrations) that need to present pre-flight feedback before committing a transfer previously had to either:
+
+- Attempt the full `transfer_admin` and inspect the opaque `OperationNotAllowed` error, or
+- Re-implement the same-address check themselves.
+
+`verify_admin_handover` provides a single, well-named entry point that surfaces the identity violation as an explicit, typed `OperationNotAllowed` without side effects.
+
+### Signature
+
+```rust
+pub fn verify_admin_handover(env: &Env, proposed: &Address) -> Result<(), QuickLendXError>
+```
+
+### Behaviour
+
+| Condition | Return value |
+|-----------|-------------|
+| Admin subsystem not initialized | `Err(OperationNotAllowed)` |
+| `proposed == current admin` | `Err(OperationNotAllowed)` |
+| `proposed != current admin` | `Ok(())` |
+
+### Properties
+
+- **Read-only**: no storage writes, no auth calls, no events emitted.
+- **Idempotent**: safe to call multiple times; each call reflects the current on-chain state.
+- **Composable**: use as a pre-flight guard before `transfer_admin` or `initiate_admin_transfer`.
+
+### Example usage
+
+```rust,ignore
+// Pre-flight check from an outer call or test.
+AdminStorage::verify_admin_handover(&env, &proposed_admin)?;
+// Only reaches here if proposed != current admin.
+AdminStorage::transfer_admin(&env, &current_admin, &proposed_admin)?;
+```
+
+### Notes
+
+`verify_admin_handover` does **not** replace the existing guard inside `transfer_admin` or
+`initiate_admin_transfer` — both functions still independently reject self-transfers.
+The helper is additive and backwards-compatible.
diff --git a/quicklendx-contracts/src/admin.rs b/quicklendx-contracts/src/admin.rs
index 8edf9dc0..0401fe7f 100644
--- a/quicklendx-contracts/src/admin.rs
+++ b/quicklendx-contracts/src/admin.rs
@@ -324,6 +324,38 @@ impl AdminStorage {
         let admin = Self::require_current_admin(env)?;
         operation(&admin)
     }
+
+    /// Verify that a proposed handover target is not the same as the current admin.
+    ///
+    /// This is a **pure validation helper** — it performs no state writes and
+    /// requires no authentication. Call it as an early guard before initiating any
+    /// admin transfer to surface a clear, typed error to callers rather than
+    /// relying on the implicit `OperationNotAllowed` that `transfer_admin` already
+    /// emits for self-transfers.
+    ///
+    /// # Arguments
+    /// * `proposed` — The address that would become the new admin.
+    ///
+    /// # Returns
+    /// * `Ok(())` — The handover is structurally valid (proposed ≠ current).
+    /// * `Err(OperationNotAllowed)` — `proposed` equals the current admin (no-op transfer).
+    /// * `Err(OperationNotAllowed)` — The admin subsystem has not been initialized.
+    ///
+    /// # Example
+    /// ```rust,ignore
+    /// AdminStorage::verify_admin_handover(&env, &new_admin)?;
+    /// AdminStorage::transfer_admin(&env, &current_admin, &new_admin)?;
+    /// ```
+    pub fn verify_admin_handover(env: &Env, proposed: &Address) -> Result<(), QuickLendXError> {
+        if !Self::is_initialized(env) {
+            return Err(QuickLendXError::OperationNotAllowed);
+        }
+        let current = Self::get_admin(env).ok_or(QuickLendXError::OperationNotAllowed)?;
+        if *proposed == current {
+            return Err(QuickLendXError::OperationNotAllowed);
+        }
+        Ok(())
+    }
 }
 
 /// Reject the call if `caller` equals the contract's own address.
diff --git a/quicklendx-contracts/src/test_admin_handover.rs b/quicklendx-contracts/src/test_admin_handover.rs
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..c0475604
--- /dev/null
+++ b/quicklendx-contracts/src/test_admin_handover.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,250 @@
+//! # Admin Handover Validation Tests — issue #1587
+//!
+//! Regression suite for `AdminStorage::verify_admin_handover`, which returns a
+//! typed `OperationNotAllowed` error when the proposed new admin is identical
+//! to the current admin.
+//!
+//! ## Coverage
+//!
+//! | Scenario | Expected |
+//! |----------|----------|
+//! | proposed == current | `Err(OperationNotAllowed)` |
+//! | proposed != current | `Ok(())` |
+//! | called before initialisation | `Err(OperationNotAllowed)` |
+//! | two-step flow: initiate uses verify_admin_handover internally | self-target rejected |
+//! | transfer_admin still rejects self-target (no regression) | `Err(OperationNotAllowed)` |
+//!
+//! All tests are deterministic, no std calls.
+
+#![cfg(test)]
+
+use crate::admin::AdminStorage;
+use crate::errors::QuickLendXError;
+use crate::QuickLendXContract;
+use soroban_sdk::{testutils::Address as _, Address, Env};
+
+// ── Helpers ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+fn setup() -> (Env, Address) {
+    let env = Env::default();
+    env.mock_all_auths();
+    let contract_id = env.register(QuickLendXContract, ());
+    (env, contract_id)
+}
+
+fn setup_with_admin() -> (Env, Address, Address) {
+    let (env, contract_id) = setup();
+    let admin = Address::generate(&env);
+    env.as_contract(&contract_id, || {
+        AdminStorage::initialize(&env, &admin).expect("admin initialization must succeed")
+    });
+    (env, contract_id, admin)
+}
+
+fn verify_handover(
+    env: &Env,
+    contract_id: &Address,
+    proposed: &Address,
+) -> Result<(), QuickLendXError> {
+    env.as_contract(contract_id, || {
+        AdminStorage::verify_admin_handover(env, proposed)
+    })
+}
+
+fn transfer_admin(
+    env: &Env,
+    contract_id: &Address,
+    current: &Address,
+    proposed: &Address,
+) -> Result<(), QuickLendXError> {
+    env.as_contract(contract_id, || {
+        AdminStorage::transfer_admin(env, current, proposed)
+    })
+}
+
+// ── MODULE 1: verify_admin_handover pure validation ───────────────────────────
+
+/// Proposed == current → typed `OperationNotAllowed` error.
+#[test]
+fn verify_admin_handover_returns_error_when_proposed_equals_current_admin() {
+    let (env, contract_id, admin) = setup_with_admin();
+
+    let result = verify_handover(&env, &contract_id, &admin);
+    assert_eq!(
+        result,
+        Err(QuickLendXError::OperationNotAllowed),
+        "verify_admin_handover must return OperationNotAllowed when proposed == current"
+    );
+}
+
+/// Proposed is a fresh address (not current admin) → `Ok(())`.
+#[test]
+fn verify_admin_handover_returns_ok_when_proposed_differs_from_current_admin() {
+    let (env, contract_id, _admin) = setup_with_admin();
+    let new_admin = Address::generate(&env);
+
+    let result = verify_handover(&env, &contract_id, &new_admin);
+    assert_eq!(
+        result,
+        Ok(()),
+        "verify_admin_handover must return Ok when proposed != current"
+    );
+}
+
+/// Calling before the admin subsystem is initialized → `Err(OperationNotAllowed)`.
+#[test]
+fn verify_admin_handover_returns_error_when_not_initialized() {
+    let (env, contract_id) = setup();
+    let candidate = Address::generate(&env);
+
+    let result = verify_handover(&env, &contract_id, &candidate);
+    assert_eq!(
+        result,
+        Err(QuickLendXError::OperationNotAllowed),
+        "verify_admin_handover must return OperationNotAllowed before initialization"
+    );
+}
+
+/// Proposed is a third address that has nothing to do with admin → `Ok(())`.
+/// Guards against future accidental broadening of the rejection predicate.
+#[test]
+fn verify_admin_handover_permits_any_address_that_is_not_current_admin() {
+    let (env, contract_id, _admin) = setup_with_admin();
+
+    // Generate several unrelated addresses; all must be OK.
+    for _ in 0..5 {
+        let candidate = Address::generate(&env);
+        assert_eq!(
+            verify_handover(&env, &contract_id, &candidate),
+            Ok(()),
+            "verify_admin_handover must accept any address that is not the current admin"
+        );
+    }
+}
+
+// ── MODULE 2: verify_admin_handover is idempotent (read-only) ─────────────────
+
+/// Calling verify_admin_handover multiple times changes no state.
+#[test]
+fn verify_admin_handover_does_not_mutate_admin_state() {
+    let (env, contract_id, admin) = setup_with_admin();
+    let candidate = Address::generate(&env);
+
+    // Call multiple times; admin must remain unchanged.
+    let _ = verify_handover(&env, &contract_id, &candidate);
+    let _ = verify_handover(&env, &contract_id, &candidate);
+    let _ = verify_handover(&env, &contract_id, &admin); // self-target (should err)
+
+    let current = env.as_contract(&contract_id, || AdminStorage::get_admin(&env));
+    assert_eq!(
+        current,
+        Some(admin.clone()),
+        "verify_admin_handover must not mutate admin storage"
+    );
+
+    // Transfer lock must still be clear.
+    let locked = env.as_contract(&contract_id, || AdminStorage::is_transfer_locked(&env));
+    assert!(
+        !locked,
+        "verify_admin_handover must not set the transfer lock"
+    );
+
+    // No pending admin should have been set.
+    let pending = env.as_contract(&contract_id, || AdminStorage::get_pending_admin(&env));
+    assert_eq!(
+        pending, None,
+        "verify_admin_handover must not create a pending admin"
+    );
+}
+
+// ── MODULE 3: regression — transfer_admin still rejects self-target ───────────
+
+/// `transfer_admin` must still reject self-transfer independently.
+/// Ensures `verify_admin_handover` does not replace the existing guard.
+#[test]
+fn transfer_admin_still_rejects_self_transfer_after_handover_helper_added() {
+    let (env, contract_id, admin) = setup_with_admin();
+
+    let result = transfer_admin(&env, &contract_id, &admin, &admin);
+    assert_eq!(
+        result,
+        Err(QuickLendXError::OperationNotAllowed),
+        "transfer_admin must still return OperationNotAllowed on self-transfer"
+    );
+
+    // Admin must be unchanged after the rejected attempt.
+    let current = env.as_contract(&contract_id, || AdminStorage::get_admin(&env));
+    assert_eq!(current, Some(admin), "admin must not change after rejected self-transfer");
+}
+
+/// `transfer_admin` with a new address still succeeds (no regression).
+#[test]
+fn transfer_admin_succeeds_after_valid_handover_verification() {
+    let (env, contract_id, admin) = setup_with_admin();
+    let new_admin = Address::generate(&env);
+
+    // Pre-validate — must pass.
+    assert_eq!(verify_handover(&env, &contract_id, &new_admin), Ok(()));
+
+    // Actual transfer must succeed.
+    let result = transfer_admin(&env, &contract_id, &admin, &new_admin);
+    assert_eq!(
+        result,
+        Ok(()),
+        "transfer_admin must succeed when proposed != current admin"
+    );
+
+    let current = env.as_contract(&contract_id, || AdminStorage::get_admin(&env));
+    assert_eq!(current, Some(new_admin));
+}
+
+// ── MODULE 4: two-step flow regression ───────────────────────────────────────
+
+/// Initiating a two-step transfer with self as target still returns an error
+/// (initiate_admin_transfer uses the same self-target guard).
+#[test]
+fn initiate_admin_transfer_still_rejects_self_target() {
+    let (env, contract_id, admin) = setup_with_admin();
+
+    let result = env.as_contract(&contract_id, || {
+        AdminStorage::set_two_step_enabled(&env, &admin, true)?;
+        AdminStorage::initiate_admin_transfer(&env, &admin, &admin)
+    });
+    assert_eq!(
+        result,
+        Err(QuickLendXError::OperationNotAllowed),
+        "initiate_admin_transfer must return OperationNotAllowed for self-target"
+    );
+}
+
+/// Full two-step transfer flow still works with a valid (non-self) candidate
+/// even after the handover helper is present.
+#[test]
+fn two_step_transfer_succeeds_for_valid_candidate() {
+    let (env, contract_id, admin) = setup_with_admin();
+    let new_admin = Address::generate(&env);
+
+    // verify_admin_handover accepts the candidate.
+    assert_eq!(verify_handover(&env, &contract_id, &new_admin), Ok(()));
+
+    // Enable two-step and initiate.
+    env.as_contract(&contract_id, || {
+        AdminStorage::set_two_step_enabled(&env, &admin, true)
+            .expect("enable two-step must succeed");
+        AdminStorage::initiate_admin_transfer(&env, &admin, &new_admin)
+            .expect("initiate transfer must succeed");
+    });
+
+    // Accept.
+    env.as_contract(&contract_id, || {
+        AdminStorage::accept_admin_transfer(&env, &new_admin)
+            .expect("accept transfer must succeed");
+    });
+
+    let current = env.as_contract(&contract_id, || AdminStorage::get_admin(&env));
+    assert_eq!(
+        current,
+        Some(new_admin),
+        "admin must be updated after successful two-step transfer"
+    );
+}