diff --git a/client/src/lib/contract.ts b/client/src/lib/contract.ts
index bd6155e9..e0ebd0eb 100644
--- a/client/src/lib/contract.ts
+++ b/client/src/lib/contract.ts
@@ -95,6 +95,24 @@ export class StellarEscrowClient {
     // Similar pattern for get_trade_detail
     // Implement based on backend TradeDetail
   }
+
+  /**
+   * Call claim_time_release on the contract once the trade's expiry has passed.
+   * Anyone can call this — the contract enforces the time-lock check.
+   */
+  async executeAutoRelease(tradeId: number, callerKeypair: string): Promise<string> {
+    const account = await this.server.getAccount(callerKeypair);
+    const tx = new TransactionBuilder(account, { fee: BASE_FEE })
+      .addInvocation(
+        this.contract.call('claim_time_release', xdr.ScVal.scvU64(tradeId))
+      )
+      .setTimeout(30)
+      .setNetworkPassphrase('Test SDF Network ; September 2015')
+      .build();
+
+    const txHash = await this.rpcServer.sendTransaction(tx);
+    return txHash;
+  }
 }
 
 export const escrowClient = new StellarEscrowClient('testnet', 'YOUR_CONTRACT_ID');
diff --git a/client/src/routes/trades/[id]/+page.svelte b/client/src/routes/trades/[id]/+page.svelte
index f932e63e..3aece0e8 100644
--- a/client/src/routes/trades/[id]/+page.svelte
+++ b/client/src/routes/trades/[id]/+page.svelte
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 <script lang="ts">
   import { page } from '$app/stores';
-  import { onMount } from 'svelte';
+  import { onMount, onDestroy } from 'svelte';
   import { FundingPreview, escrowClient } from '$lib/contract';
 
   let tradeId = $page.params.id;
@@ -13,8 +13,61 @@
   let success = false;
   let error = '';
 
-  let isBuyer = false; // Simulate - from wallet connect
-  let tradeStatus = 'Created'; // Simulate from get_trade_detail
+  let isBuyer = false;
+  let tradeStatus = 'Funded'; // Simulate from get_trade_detail
+
+  // --- Expiry / auto-release (Issue #123) ---
+  // expiryTimestamp: Unix seconds, null if no expiry set
+  let expiryTimestamp: number | null = Math.floor(Date.now() / 1000) + 120; // mock: 2 min from now
+  let countdown = '';
+  let isExpired = false;
+  let releasing = false;
+  let releaseError = '';
+  let releaseTxHash = '';
+  let countdownInterval: ReturnType<typeof setInterval> | null = null;
+
+  function pad(n: number) { return String(n).padStart(2, '0'); }
+
+  function tickCountdown() {
+    if (!expiryTimestamp) return;
+    const remaining = expiryTimestamp - Math.floor(Date.now() / 1000);
+    if (remaining <= 0) {
+      countdown = 'Expired';
+      isExpired = true;
+      if (countdownInterval) clearInterval(countdownInterval);
+    } else {
+      const h = Math.floor(remaining / 3600);
+      const m = Math.floor((remaining % 3600) / 60);
+      const s = remaining % 60;
+      countdown = `${pad(h)}:${pad(m)}:${pad(s)}`;
+    }
+  }
+
+  async function handleAutoRelease() {
+    releasing = true;
+    releaseError = '';
+    try {
+      // releaseTxHash = await escrowClient.executeAutoRelease(parseInt(tradeId), 'callerKeypair');
+      releaseTxHash = 'mock_release_tx_456';
+      tradeStatus = 'Released';
+      isExpired = false; // hide button after release
+    } catch (e: any) {
+      releaseError = e?.message ?? 'Release failed';
+    }
+    releasing = false;
+  }
+
+  onMount(async () => {
+    await loadPreview();
+    if (expiryTimestamp) {
+      tickCountdown();
+      countdownInterval = setInterval(tickCountdown, 1000);
+    }
+  });
+
+  onDestroy(() => {
+    if (countdownInterval) clearInterval(countdownInterval);
+  });
 
   async function loadPreview() {
     try {
@@ -142,6 +195,52 @@
           {/if}
         </div>
       </div>
+
+      <!-- Expiry / Auto-Release (Issue #123) -->
+      {#if expiryTimestamp}
+        <div class="bg-white rounded-2xl shadow-xl p-8 mt-8">
+          <h2 class="text-2xl font-bold mb-4">Time-Lock Expiry</h2>
+
+          <div class="flex items-center gap-4 mb-6">
+            <div class="text-center">
+              <p class="text-sm text-gray-500 mb-1">Auto-release in</p>
+              <p
+                class="text-3xl font-mono font-bold {isExpired ? 'text-red-600' : 'text-gray-800'}"
+                aria-live="polite"
+                aria-label="Countdown to auto-release"
+              >
+                {countdown || '—'}
+              </p>
+            </div>
+          </div>
+
+          {#if isExpired && tradeStatus === 'Funded' && !releaseTxHash}
+            <div class="bg-yellow-50 border border-yellow-200 rounded-xl p-4 mb-4">
+              <p class="text-yellow-800 text-sm font-medium">
+                The time-lock has expired. You can now release the escrowed funds.
+              </p>
+            </div>
+            <button
+              on:click={handleAutoRelease}
+              disabled={releasing}
+              class="bg-gradient-to-r from-orange-500 to-red-600 text-white px-8 py-3 rounded-xl font-semibold hover:shadow-lg transition-all disabled:opacity-50 disabled:cursor-not-allowed"
+              aria-label="Release escrowed funds for trade {tradeId}"
+            >
+              {releasing ? 'Releasing…' : 'Release Funds'}
+            </button>
+            {#if releaseError}
+              <p class="text-red-600 text-sm mt-3">{releaseError}</p>
+            {/if}
+          {/if}
+
+          {#if releaseTxHash}
+            <div class="bg-green-50 border border-green-200 rounded-xl p-4">
+              <p class="text-green-800 font-semibold">Funds released successfully!</p>
+              <p class="text-sm text-green-700 mt-1">Tx: {releaseTxHash}</p>
+            </div>
+          {/if}
+        </div>
+      {/if}
     </div>
   {/if}
 </div>
diff --git a/frontend/tradeExpiry.js b/frontend/tradeExpiry.js
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..c264638b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/frontend/tradeExpiry.js
@@ -0,0 +1,153 @@
+/**
+ * Trade Expiry Auto-Release UI (Issue #123)
+ *
+ * Renders a countdown timer on the trade detail page and shows a
+ * "Release Funds" button only once the expiry timestamp has passed.
+ * Calls the contract's `claim_time_release` function on confirmation.
+ */
+
+(function () {
+    'use strict';
+
+    // -------------------------------------------------------------------------
+    // Countdown timer
+    // -------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+    /**
+     * Start a live countdown inside `container` targeting `expiryTimestamp` (Unix seconds).
+     * Calls `onExpired()` when the countdown reaches zero.
+     *
+     * @param {HTMLElement} container
+     * @param {number}      expiryTimestamp  - Unix epoch seconds
+     * @param {Function}    onExpired
+     * @returns {number} intervalId — call clearInterval() to stop
+     */
+    function startCountdown(container, expiryTimestamp, onExpired) {
+        function tick() {
+            const remaining = expiryTimestamp - Math.floor(Date.now() / 1000);
+
+            if (remaining <= 0) {
+                container.textContent = 'Expired';
+                container.setAttribute('aria-label', 'Trade has expired');
+                clearInterval(id);
+                onExpired();
+                return;
+            }
+
+            const h = Math.floor(remaining / 3600);
+            const m = Math.floor((remaining % 3600) / 60);
+            const s = remaining % 60;
+            const label = `${pad(h)}:${pad(m)}:${pad(s)}`;
+            container.textContent = label;
+            container.setAttribute('aria-label', `Time until auto-release: ${label}`);
+        }
+
+        tick();
+        const id = setInterval(tick, 1000);
+        return id;
+    }
+
+    function pad(n) {
+        return String(n).padStart(2, '0');
+    }
+
+    // -------------------------------------------------------------------------
+    // Release button
+    // -------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+    /**
+     * Show the "Release Funds" button and wire up the contract call.
+     *
+     * @param {HTMLElement} buttonContainer
+     * @param {number|string} tradeId
+     * @param {Function}    executeAutoRelease  - async (tradeId) => { txHash }
+     */
+    function showReleaseButton(buttonContainer, tradeId, executeAutoRelease) {
+        buttonContainer.innerHTML = `
+            <button
+                id="release-funds-btn"
+                class="btn btn-primary btn-release-funds"
+                type="button"
+                aria-label="Release funds for trade ${tradeId}"
+            >
+                Release Funds
+            </button>
+            <p id="release-status" class="release-status" aria-live="polite"></p>
+        `;
+
+        const btn = buttonContainer.querySelector('#release-funds-btn');
+        const status = buttonContainer.querySelector('#release-status');
+
+        btn.addEventListener('click', async () => {
+            if (!confirm('Release the escrowed funds now? This cannot be undone.')) return;
+
+            btn.disabled = true;
+            btn.textContent = 'Releasing…';
+            status.textContent = '';
+
+            try {
+                const txHash = await executeAutoRelease(tradeId);
+                btn.textContent = 'Released ✓';
+                status.textContent = `Transaction: ${txHash}`;
+                status.className = 'release-status success';
+                document.dispatchEvent(new CustomEvent('trade:auto_released', {
+                    detail: { tradeId, txHash },
+                    bubbles: true,
+                }));
+            } catch (err) {
+                btn.disabled = false;
+                btn.textContent = 'Release Funds';
+                status.textContent = `Error: ${err.message}`;
+                status.className = 'release-status error';
+            }
+        });
+    }
+
+    // -------------------------------------------------------------------------
+    // Main init
+    // -------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+    /**
+     * Initialise the expiry UI for a trade detail page.
+     *
+     * @param {object} options
+     * @param {number|string} options.tradeId
+     * @param {number|null}   options.expiryTimestamp  - Unix seconds, or null if no expiry
+     * @param {string}        options.tradeStatus       - e.g. "Funded", "Created"
+     * @param {HTMLElement}   options.countdownEl       - element to render the countdown in
+     * @param {HTMLElement}   options.releaseContainerEl - element to render the release button in
+     * @param {Function}      options.executeAutoRelease - async (tradeId) => txHash
+     */
+    function init({ tradeId, expiryTimestamp, tradeStatus, countdownEl, releaseContainerEl, executeAutoRelease }) {
+        if (!expiryTimestamp) {
+            if (countdownEl) countdownEl.textContent = 'No expiry set';
+            return;
+        }
+
+        const alreadyExpired = expiryTimestamp <= Math.floor(Date.now() / 1000);
+        const isFunded = tradeStatus === 'Funded';
+
+        if (alreadyExpired && isFunded) {
+            if (countdownEl) countdownEl.textContent = 'Expired';
+            if (releaseContainerEl) showReleaseButton(releaseContainerEl, tradeId, executeAutoRelease);
+            return;
+        }
+
+        if (countdownEl) {
+            startCountdown(countdownEl, expiryTimestamp, () => {
+                // Only show release button if trade is still in Funded state
+                if (isFunded && releaseContainerEl) {
+                    showReleaseButton(releaseContainerEl, tradeId, executeAutoRelease);
+                }
+            });
+        }
+    }
+
+    // -------------------------------------------------------------------------
+    // Public API
+    // -------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+    window.TradeExpiry = { init, startCountdown, showReleaseButton };
+
+    console.log('Trade Expiry module loaded');
+})();