diff --git a/src/socrates120x/timeline.py b/src/socrates120x/timeline.py
index 7f455ea..a9d75d0 100644
--- a/src/socrates120x/timeline.py
+++ b/src/socrates120x/timeline.py
@@ -129,7 +129,18 @@ def _sprint_events(project: Path) -> list[TimelineEvent]:
     return events
 
 
-_DATED_DECISION = re.compile(r"\((\d{4}-\d{2}-\d{2})\)")
+# The date stamp `socrates decide` and `_decisions_md` both emit is
+# anchored at the END of the bullet, immediately before the closing
+# `**` and optional trailing whitespace. Anchoring here prevents a
+# user-typed date in the decision body (e.g. "Migrate by (2024-12-31)
+# (2026-05-20)") from being misread as the recording date — the
+# previous unanchored `\((\d{4}-\d{2}-\d{2})\)` regex took the FIRST
+# match in the line.
+_DATED_DECISION_END = re.compile(r"\((\d{4}-\d{2}-\d{2})\)\*{0,2}\s*$")
+# Fallback: any (YYYY-MM-DD) anywhere in the line, in case the line
+# does NOT end in the canonical `)**` (older files, hand-edited
+# bullets). Used only if the anchored match fails.
+_DATED_DECISION_ANY = re.compile(r"\((\d{4}-\d{2}-\d{2})\)")
 
 
 def _decision_events(project: Path) -> list[TimelineEvent]:
@@ -141,7 +152,7 @@ def _decision_events(project: Path) -> list[TimelineEvent]:
         stripped = line.lstrip()
         if not stripped.startswith("- "):
             continue
-        m = _DATED_DECISION.search(stripped)
+        m = _DATED_DECISION_END.search(stripped) or _DATED_DECISION_ANY.search(stripped)
         if not m:
             continue
         try:
@@ -149,7 +160,9 @@ def _decision_events(project: Path) -> list[TimelineEvent]:
         except ValueError:
             continue
         content = stripped[2:]  # strip "- "
-        content = _DATED_DECISION.sub("", content).strip()
+        # Strip ONLY the trailing date stamp (anchored) so dates that appear
+        # in the body are preserved in the rendered timeline entry.
+        content = _DATED_DECISION_END.sub("", content).strip()
         content = content.strip("*").strip()
         events.append(TimelineEvent(
             date=d,
diff --git a/tests/test_timeline.py b/tests/test_timeline.py
index f4b65fc..9011520 100644
--- a/tests/test_timeline.py
+++ b/tests/test_timeline.py
@@ -85,3 +85,50 @@ def test_format_timeline_renders_events(project: Path) -> None:
     text = format_timeline(events, use_color=False)
     assert yesterday.isoformat() in text
     assert "[journal]" in text
+
+
+def test_decision_with_user_date_in_body_uses_trailing_recording_date(
+    project: Path,
+) -> None:
+    """User decision text can mention a date in parens (e.g. a deadline).
+    The PREVIOUS unanchored regex took the FIRST date in the line, which
+    was the user's date, not the date the decision was recorded. Anchor
+    to the trailing `)**` so the recording date wins."""
+    decisions = project / "planning" / "DECISIONS.md"
+    decisions.write_text(
+        decisions.read_text()
+        + "\n\n## Decisions added after init\n\n"
+        + "- **Migrate by (2024-12-31) for compliance (2026-05-20)**\n"
+    )
+    events = build_timeline(project)
+    decision_events = [e for e in events if e.kind is EventKind.DECISION]
+    # The decision must be dated 2026-05-20 (the recording date),
+    # NOT 2024-12-31 (the user's deadline date inside the bullet text).
+    matching = [e for e in decision_events if "Migrate by" in e.title]
+    assert matching, "decision was not detected at all"
+    assert matching[0].date == _dt.date(2026, 5, 20), (
+        f"expected recording date 2026-05-20; got {matching[0].date} — "
+        f"likely picked the user-typed (2024-12-31) at the front of the line"
+    )
+    # The user's date in the body should be preserved in the rendered title
+    # (we only strip the trailing recording stamp).
+    assert "2024-12-31" in matching[0].title
+
+
+def test_decision_with_no_trailing_stamp_falls_back_to_any_date(
+    project: Path,
+) -> None:
+    """Pre-fix files / hand-edited bullets may have just `(YYYY-MM-DD)`
+    somewhere in the line with no closing `**`. Still detect them via
+    the unanchored fallback."""
+    decisions = project / "planning" / "DECISIONS.md"
+    decisions.write_text(
+        decisions.read_text()
+        + "\n\n## Decisions added after init\n\n"
+        + "- legacy bullet style (2025-03-15)\n"
+    )
+    events = build_timeline(project)
+    decision_events = [e for e in events if e.kind is EventKind.DECISION]
+    matching = [e for e in decision_events if "legacy bullet" in e.title]
+    assert matching
+    assert matching[0].date == _dt.date(2025, 3, 15)