diff --git a/crud.py b/crud.py
index 1858cb6..6dc7ea9 100644
--- a/crud.py
+++ b/crud.py
@@ -739,6 +739,15 @@ async def create_settlement_idempotent(
     return await get_settlement(settlement_id)
 
 
+async def mark_settlement_notified(settlement_id: str) -> None:
+    """The operator alert for this settlement went out (ADR-005 §6)."""
+    await db.execute(
+        "UPDATE spirekeeper.dca_settlements SET operator_notified_at = :now "
+        "WHERE id = :id AND operator_notified_at IS NULL",
+        {"id": settlement_id, "now": datetime.now()},
+    )
+
+
 async def get_settlement_by_txid(
     machine_id: str, bitspire_txid: str
 ) -> DcaSettlement | None:
@@ -1927,9 +1936,9 @@ async def create_cassette_op(
         """
         INSERT INTO spirekeeper.cassette_ops
         (id, machine_id, position, op_type, bills, count, denomination,
-         created_at, created_by)
+         txid, note, created_at, created_by)
         VALUES (:id, :machine_id, :position, :op_type, :bills, :count,
-                :denomination, :created_at, :created_by)
+                :denomination, :txid, :note, :created_at, :created_by)
         """,
         {
             "id": op_id,
@@ -1939,6 +1948,8 @@ async def create_cassette_op(
             "bills": data.bills,
             "count": data.count,
             "denomination": data.denomination,
+            "txid": data.txid,
+            "note": data.note,
             "created_at": datetime.now(),
             "created_by": created_by,
         },
diff --git a/migrations.py b/migrations.py
index ed3d6f1..0c1f0c0 100644
--- a/migrations.py
+++ b/migrations.py
@@ -1020,3 +1020,29 @@ async def m016_dispense_outcome(db):
         await db.execute(
             f"ALTER TABLE spirekeeper.dca_machines ADD COLUMN {col} {typ}"
         )
+
+
+async def m017_owed_cash_closure(db):
+    """ADR-005 §6 — closing an owed-cash settlement, and telling the operator.
+
+    `operator_notified_at`: when the Nostr alert for a cash_owed /
+    partial_pending settlement went out (NIP-17 DM to the operator). Kept so
+    a report resend never re-alerts and the dashboard can show that the
+    operator was told.
+
+    `super_config.alerts_pubkey`: optional recipient override. By default the
+    alert goes to the operator's own LNbits-account pubkey (a note to self,
+    readable in any NIP-46 client); operators who want it on a phone identity
+    set this.
+
+    `cassette_ops.txid` / `.note`: the machine-wide `settle_transaction` op —
+    the operator paid the customer by hand, outside the machine — carries the
+    machine txid it closes and the provenance note, so the machine can flip its
+    own row to `remediated` and both ledgers close on one act.
+    """
+    await db.execute(
+        "ALTER TABLE spirekeeper.dca_settlements ADD COLUMN operator_notified_at TIMESTAMP"
+    )
+    await db.execute("ALTER TABLE spirekeeper.super_config ADD COLUMN alerts_pubkey TEXT")
+    await db.execute("ALTER TABLE spirekeeper.cassette_ops ADD COLUMN txid TEXT")
+    await db.execute("ALTER TABLE spirekeeper.cassette_ops ADD COLUMN note TEXT")
diff --git a/models.py b/models.py
index f1422fc..f51adf8 100644
--- a/models.py
+++ b/models.py
@@ -351,6 +351,9 @@ class DcaSettlement(BaseModel):
     dispense_error_class: str | None = None
     dispense_reported_at: datetime | None = None
     dispensed_fiat_cents: int | None = None
+    # ADR-005 §6: when the operator was alerted (NIP-17 DM) that this
+    # settlement needs a human. NULL = no alert sent (or none was due).
+    operator_notified_at: datetime | None = None
     # Append-only audit memo. Populated when an operator triggers an in-place
     # adjustment (partial-dispense, manual reconciliation override). Each
     # entry timestamped + records original values so the overwrite is
@@ -623,6 +626,9 @@ class SuperConfig(BaseModel):
     # rate, not sats, so this bounds a single ATM-attested principal. NULL = no
     # cap.
     max_cash_in_sats: int | None = None
+    # ADR-005 §6: where owed-cash alerts go. NULL/empty = the operator's own
+    # LNbits-account pubkey (a note to self). 64-char hex.
+    alerts_pubkey: str | None = None
     updated_at: datetime
 
 
@@ -631,6 +637,23 @@ class UpdateSuperConfigData(BaseModel):
     super_cash_out_fee_fraction: float | None = None
     super_fee_wallet_id: str | None = None
     max_cash_in_sats: int | None = None
+    # Empty string clears it (None means "not touching this field").
+    alerts_pubkey: str | None = None
+
+    @validator("alerts_pubkey")
+    def _alerts_pubkey_hex(cls, v):
+        if v is None:
+            return v
+        v = v.strip()
+        if v == "":
+            return ""
+        if v.startswith("npub1"):
+            from lnbits.utils.nostr import normalize_public_key
+
+            v = normalize_public_key(v)
+        if len(v) != 64 or any(c not in "0123456789abcdefABCDEF" for c in v):
+            raise ValueError("alerts_pubkey must be a 64-char hex pubkey or an npub")
+        return v.lower()
 
     @validator(
         "super_cash_in_fee_fraction",
@@ -714,6 +737,27 @@ class StuckSettlementsResponse(BaseModel):
     stuck_processing: list
 
 
+class SettleCashOwedData(BaseModel):
+    """ADR-005 §6 — the operator paid the customer outside the machine.
+
+    Closes a cash_owed / partial_pending settlement: the provenance note is
+    appended, the settlement distributes at the FULL amount (the customer is
+    whole), and a `settle_transaction` op is published so the machine flips
+    its own row to `remediated`. Nothing is dispensed.
+    """
+
+    note: str
+
+    @validator("note")
+    def non_empty(cls, v):
+        v = v.strip() if isinstance(v, str) else v
+        if not v:
+            raise ValueError("note cannot be empty — say how the customer was paid")
+        if len(v) > 500:
+            raise ValueError("note too long (max 500 chars)")
+        return v
+
+
 class AppendSettlementNoteData(BaseModel):
     """Operator-authored free-form note on a settlement.
 
@@ -952,6 +996,7 @@ CASSETTE_OP_TYPES = (
     "recount",
     "set_denomination",
     "resume_cash_out",
+    "settle_transaction",
 )
 
 # ADR-005 §5: `resume_cash_out` is not a cassette operation — it releases the
@@ -960,7 +1005,7 @@ CASSETTE_OP_TYPES = (
 # one the machine already consumes. It is machine-wide, so its position is 0
 # and its wire form carries no position at all. A recount also releases the
 # hold (same "operator at the open machine" gesture).
-MACHINE_WIDE_OP_TYPES = ("resume_cash_out",)
+MACHINE_WIDE_OP_TYPES = ("resume_cash_out", "settle_transaction")
 
 
 class CassetteOp(BaseModel):
@@ -984,6 +1029,10 @@ class CassetteOp(BaseModel):
     bills: int | None = None
     count: int | None = None
     denomination: int | None = None
+    # settle_transaction only (ADR-005 §6): the machine txid this closes and
+    # the operator's provenance note ("paid 20 EUR by hand, 2026-10-09").
+    txid: str | None = None
+    note: str | None = None
     created_at: datetime
     created_by: str | None = None
     acked_at: datetime | None = None
@@ -1014,6 +1063,10 @@ class CassetteOp(BaseModel):
             "at": int(self.created_at.timestamp()),
             "type": self.op_type,
         }
+        if self.op_type == "settle_transaction":
+            out["txid"] = self.txid
+            out["note"] = self.note or ""
+            return out
         if self.op_type in MACHINE_WIDE_OP_TYPES:
             return out
         out["position"] = self.position
@@ -1038,6 +1091,8 @@ class CreateCassetteOpData(BaseModel):
     bills: int | None = None
     count: int | None = None
     denomination: int | None = None
+    txid: str | None = None
+    note: str | None = None
 
     @validator("op_type")
     def _known_op_type(cls, v):
@@ -1083,12 +1138,18 @@ class CreateCassetteOpData(BaseModel):
             "set_denomination": "denomination",
             "empty": None,
             "resume_cash_out": None,
+            "settle_transaction": "txid",
         }[values.get("op_type")]
-        if required is not None and values.get(required) is None:
-            raise ValueError(f"{values['op_type']} requires `{required}`")
-        for field in ("bills", "count", "denomination"):
+        if required is not None:
+            val = values.get(required)
+            # count=0 is a real observation (an empty bay); only txid must be non-empty
+            if val is None or (required == "txid" and not str(val).strip()):
+                raise ValueError(f"{values['op_type']} requires `{required}`")
+        for field in ("bills", "count", "denomination", "txid"):
             if field != required and values.get(field) is not None:
                 raise ValueError(f"{values['op_type']} must not carry `{field}`")
+        if values.get("note") is not None and values.get("op_type") != "settle_transaction":
+            raise ValueError(f"{values['op_type']} must not carry `note`")
         return values
 
 
diff --git a/tests/test_cassette_ops.py b/tests/test_cassette_ops.py
index 35ca48c..a6380c5 100644
--- a/tests/test_cassette_ops.py
+++ b/tests/test_cassette_ops.py
@@ -126,6 +126,8 @@ class TestWireShape:
                 "empty": {},
                 # machine-wide (ADR-005 §5): position 0, no position on the wire
                 "resume_cash_out": {"position": 0},
+                # machine-wide too (ADR-005 §6): carries the txid it closes
+                "settle_transaction": {"position": 0, "txid": "tx_1"},
             }[op_type]
             wire = op(op_type=op_type, **kw).to_wire_dict()
             assert None not in wire.values()