diff --git a/ftl_code_expert/cli.py b/ftl_code_expert/cli.py
index 0536bfc..240abab 100644
--- a/ftl_code_expert/cli.py
+++ b/ftl_code_expert/cli.py
@@ -2986,6 +2986,51 @@ def _build_negative_issue_body(belief: dict) -> str:
     return "\n".join(lines)
 
 
+def _ensure_labels(platform: str, repo_slug: str, required: set[str]) -> None:
+    """Create any missing labels on the target repo."""
+    if platform == "github":
+        result = subprocess.run(
+            ["gh", "label", "list", "--repo", repo_slug, "-L", "1000",
+             "--json", "name", "-q", ".[].name"],
+            capture_output=True, text=True,
+        )
+        existing = set(result.stdout.strip().splitlines()) if result.returncode == 0 else set()
+        for label in required - existing:
+            click.echo(f"  Creating label: {label}", err=True)
+            r = subprocess.run(
+                ["gh", "label", "create", label, "--repo", repo_slug,
+                 "--description", "Auto-created by code-expert file-issues"],
+                capture_output=True, text=True,
+            )
+            if r.returncode != 0:
+                click.echo(f"  Failed to create label {label}: {r.stderr.strip()}", err=True)
+    elif platform == "gitlab":
+        result = subprocess.run(
+            ["glab", "label", "list", "--repo", repo_slug, "-F", "json"],
+            capture_output=True, text=True,
+        )
+        existing: set[str] = set()
+        if result.returncode == 0 and result.stdout.strip():
+            try:
+                parsed = json.loads(result.stdout)
+                if isinstance(parsed, list):
+                    for item in parsed:
+                        if isinstance(item, dict):
+                            name = item.get("name", "")
+                            if name:
+                                existing.add(name)
+            except (json.JSONDecodeError, TypeError, AttributeError):
+                pass
+        for label in required - existing:
+            click.echo(f"  Creating label: {label}", err=True)
+            r = subprocess.run(
+                ["glab", "label", "create", "--name", label, "--repo", repo_slug],
+                capture_output=True, text=True,
+            )
+            if r.returncode != 0:
+                click.echo(f"  Failed to create label {label}: {r.stderr.strip()}", err=True)
+
+
 def _create_issue(platform: str, repo_slug: str, title: str, body: str,
                   labels: list[str]) -> str | None:
     """Create an issue and return its URL, or None on failure."""
@@ -3494,6 +3539,11 @@ def file_issues(ctx, repo_slug, platform_override, labels, dry_run, skip_confirm
             click.echo(f"  {unconfirmed} belief(s) no longer present in code", err=True)
         remaining = confirmed
 
+    # Ensure required labels exist
+    if not dry_run and remaining:
+        required_labels = {"reasons-gate", "reasons-negative"} | set(labels)
+        _ensure_labels(platform, repo_slug, required_labels)
+
     # File issues
     filed = []
     skipped_ids = list(existing)
diff --git a/ftl_code_expert/data/CLAUDE.md.template b/ftl_code_expert/data/CLAUDE.md.template
index 985bdeb..c65a552 100644
--- a/ftl_code_expert/data/CLAUDE.md.template
+++ b/ftl_code_expert/data/CLAUDE.md.template
@@ -56,6 +56,45 @@ reasons compact
 code-expert update --since-last      # walk commits + propose + derive + summary
 code-expert generate-summary         # standalone morning summary
 
+# Verification
+code-expert verify <belief-id>           # check one belief against current code
+code-expert verify --all                 # verify all IN beliefs
+code-expert verify --gated               # verify beliefs blocking downstream chains
+code-expert verify --negative --retract  # verify negative beliefs, retract stale ones
+code-expert infer-sources --all          # infer source files for beliefs missing them
+
 # Status
 code-expert status
 ```
+
+## Using the Reasons Database
+
+When a `reasons.db` exists, **search beliefs before reading code**. The belief network contains verified claims about the codebase — architecture, patterns, bugs, invariants — that persist across sessions.
+
+### Answering questions about the code
+
+1. `reasons search "<question>"` — find beliefs relevant to the question
+2. `reasons show <belief-id>` — read the full belief, its justification chain, and metadata
+3. `reasons explain <belief-id>` — trace why a belief is IN or OUT
+4. Read the actual source code to confirm the belief still holds
+5. If a belief is stale, run `code-expert verify <belief-id>` to formally check it
+
+### Before modifying code
+
+1. `reasons search "<area being changed>"` — find beliefs about the affected code
+2. Check for negative beliefs (bugs, gaps, risks) that the change might interact with
+3. Check for gated beliefs — changes might unblock or break downstream reasoning chains
+4. After making changes, verify affected beliefs: `code-expert verify --category <keyword>`
+
+### Key reasons commands
+
+```bash
+reasons search "thread safety"     # semantic search across all beliefs
+reasons show <id>                  # full details including dependents
+reasons explain <id>               # trace justification chain (why IN or OUT)
+reasons list                       # all nodes with status
+reasons list --negative            # bugs, gaps, risks
+reasons list --gated               # beliefs blocked by negative findings
+```
+
+The belief network is the project's accumulated knowledge. Searching it first avoids re-discovering what is already known and surfaces constraints that pure code reading would miss.