diff --git a/extensions/assess/README.md b/extensions/assess/README.md
index e103e8bf9..7aae736ce 100644
--- a/extensions/assess/README.md
+++ b/extensions/assess/README.md
@@ -85,11 +85,9 @@ specify extension enable assess
 # → on "go", hand the decision.md handoff summary to /speckit.specify
 ```
 
-## Hooks
+## Handoff
 
-Registers one **optional** hook:
-
-- `before_specify` → prompts `speckit.assess.intake` — a nudge to assess an idea before committing it to a specification. It never runs automatically; the user chooses.
+`assess` is a **standalone pipeline you enter deliberately** — it registers no lifecycle hooks and never inserts itself into `/speckit.specify`. The only coupling runs forward and by choice: a `go` verdict from `/speckit.assess.decide` hands its `decision.md` summary to `/speckit.specify`. Discovery and specification stay separate processes.
 
 ## Guardrails
 
diff --git a/extensions/assess/extension.yml b/extensions/assess/extension.yml
index 012b96fb4..897d52998 100644
--- a/extensions/assess/extension.yml
+++ b/extensions/assess/extension.yml
@@ -32,13 +32,6 @@ provides:
       file: commands/speckit.assess.decide.md
       description: "Apply a go / needs-clarification / kill gate and hand survivors off to /speckit.specify"
 
-hooks:
-  before_specify:
-    command: speckit.assess.intake
-    optional: true
-    prompt: "Assess this idea before specifying?"
-    description: "Nudge to assess an idea before committing it to a specification"
-
 tags:
   - "assessment"
   - "discovery"
diff --git a/tests/extensions/assess/test_assess_extension.py b/tests/extensions/assess/test_assess_extension.py
index 554a97113..138652b81 100644
--- a/tests/extensions/assess/test_assess_extension.py
+++ b/tests/extensions/assess/test_assess_extension.py
@@ -48,13 +48,15 @@ class TestExtensionLayout:
         commands = {c["name"] for c in manifest["provides"]["commands"]}
         assert commands == EXPECTED_COMMANDS
 
-    def test_before_specify_hook_is_optional(self):
+    def test_declares_no_hooks(self):
+        """assess is a standalone pipeline: it must not register lifecycle
+        hooks (e.g. before_specify). Discovery and specification stay
+        separate processes; the only coupling is the forward decide ->
+        /speckit.specify handoff described in the commands."""
         manifest = yaml.safe_load(
             (EXT_DIR / "extension.yml").read_text(encoding="utf-8")
         )
-        hook = manifest["hooks"]["before_specify"]
-        assert hook["optional"] is True
-        assert hook["command"] == "speckit.assess.intake"
+        assert "hooks" not in manifest or not manifest["hooks"]
 
     def test_readme_exists(self):
         readme = EXT_DIR / "README.md"