diff --git a/.env.example b/.env.example
index 1140858..0ab55ca 100644
--- a/.env.example
+++ b/.env.example
@@ -1,34 +1,60 @@
 # ============================================
 # Anchor API variables
 # ============================================
+# Base URL for anchor platform REST API (optional)
 ANCHOR_API_BASE_URL=https://api.example.com/anchor
 
 # ============================================
 # Stellar / Soroban Network
 # ============================================
+# Target network: testnet or mainnet (optional, used by some utilities)
 STELLAR_NETWORK=testnet
+# Horizon server URL (optional, used by horizon helpers)
 STELLAR_RPC_URL=https://soroban-testnet.stellar.org
+# Soroban RPC endpoint for server-side calls (required for RPC features)
 SOROBAN_RPC_URL=https://soroban-testnet.stellar.org
+# Stellar network passphrase matching SOROBAN_RPC_URL (required)
 SOROBAN_NETWORK_PASSPHRASE=Test SDF Network ; September 2015
 
 # ============================================
 # Contract IDs (Testnet placeholders)
 # ============================================
-INSURANCE_CONTRACT_ID=CACDYF3CYMJEJTIVFESQYZTN67GO2R5D5IUABTCUG3HXQSRXCSOROBAN
+# Remittance split contract ID (optional)
+REMITTANCE_SPLIT_CONTRACT_ID=CXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
+# Savings goals contract ID (optional)
+SAVINGS_GOALS_CONTRACT_ID=CXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
+# Bill payments contract ID (optional)
+BILL_PAYMENTS_CONTRACT_ID=CXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
+# Insurance contract ID (optional)
+INSURANCE_CONTRACT_ID=CXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
+# Family wallet contract ID (optional)
+FAMILY_WALLET_CONTRACT_ID=CXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
+# Legacy or alternative variable names used by some modules (optional)
 REMITTANCE_CONTRACT_ID=CACDYF3CYMJEJTIVFESQYZTN67GO2R5D5IUABTCUG3HXQSRXCSOROBAN
 SAVINGS_CONTRACT_ID=CACDYF3CYMJEJTIVFESQYZTN67GO2R5D5IUABTCUG3HXQSRXCSOROBAN
 BILLS_CONTRACT_ID=CACDYF3CYMJEJTIVFESQYZTN67GO2R5D5IUABTCUG3HXQSRXCSOROBAN
 
 # ============================================
-# Session Encryption (MUST be 32+ characters)
+# Session / Auth Secrets
 # ============================================
+# Iron-session password (32+ chars) if using custom session
 SESSION_PASSWORD=supersecurelongsessionpasswordatleast32characters!!
+# NextAuth secret or generic session secret (optional, if using NextAuth or alt auth)
+NEXTAUTH_SECRET=
+SESSION_SECRET=
 
 # ============================================
 # Auth Secret (used in tests / API)
 # ============================================
 AUTH_SECRET=test-secret-for-local-dev-only
 
+# ============================================
+# Database configuration
+# ============================================
+# Database connection URL (Postgres/Prisma), or POSTGRES_URL alternative
+DATABASE_URL=
+POSTGRES_URL=
+
 # ============================================
 # Anchor Webhook Secret
 # ============================================
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 5988d99..815abab 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -222,36 +222,45 @@ All API routes are serverless functions deployed alongside the frontend.
 
 ### Environment Variables
 
-Create a `.env.local` file in the root directory with the following variables:
+Create a `.env.local` file in the root directory. See `.env.example` for a complete, documented list. Server-side configuration is centralized in [env.ts](file:///c:/Users/DELL/Desktop/Remitwise-Frontend/lib/env.ts).
 
 ```bash
-# Stellar Network Configuration
-NEXT_PUBLIC_STELLAR_NETWORK=testnet  # or 'mainnet'
-NEXT_PUBLIC_HORIZON_URL=https://horizon-testnet.stellar.org
-NEXT_PUBLIC_SOROBAN_RPC_URL=https://soroban-testnet.stellar.org
-
-# Contract IDs (deployed Soroban contracts)
-NEXT_PUBLIC_REMITTANCE_SPLIT_CONTRACT_ID=
-NEXT_PUBLIC_SAVINGS_GOALS_CONTRACT_ID=
-NEXT_PUBLIC_BILL_PAYMENTS_CONTRACT_ID=
-NEXT_PUBLIC_INSURANCE_CONTRACT_ID=
-NEXT_PUBLIC_FAMILY_WALLET_CONTRACT_ID=
-
-# Authentication
-AUTH_SECRET=your-secret-key-here  # Generate with: openssl rand -base64 32
-SESSION_COOKIE_NAME=remitwise-session
-SESSION_MAX_AGE=86400  # 24 hours in seconds
-
-# API Configuration
-API_RATE_LIMIT=100  # requests per minute
-API_TIMEOUT=30000  # milliseconds
-
-# Optional: Anchor Platform
-ANCHOR_PLATFORM_URL=
-ANCHOR_PLATFORM_API_KEY=
+# Soroban RPC (required for on-chain features)
+SOROBAN_RPC_URL=https://soroban-testnet.stellar.org
+SOROBAN_NETWORK_PASSPHRASE=Test SDF Network ; September 2015
+
+# Contract IDs (optional; required to enable specific features)
+REMITTANCE_SPLIT_CONTRACT_ID=
+SAVINGS_GOALS_CONTRACT_ID=
+BILL_PAYMENTS_CONTRACT_ID=
+INSURANCE_CONTRACT_ID=
+FAMILY_WALLET_CONTRACT_ID=
+
+# Database (optional; required if using the DB-backed features)
+DATABASE_URL=
+# or
+POSTGRES_URL=
+
+# Auth secrets (optional; required if using NextAuth or alt auth)
+NEXTAUTH_SECRET=
+SESSION_SECRET=
+
+# Anchor API (optional; required if integrating an anchor)
+ANCHOR_API_BASE_URL=
 ```
 
-See `.env.example` for a complete list of configuration options.
+Client-side variables for UI behavior continue to use the `NEXT_PUBLIC_*` prefix as needed.
+
+Required variables by feature:
+- Core Soroban connectivity: SOROBAN_RPC_URL, SOROBAN_NETWORK_PASSPHRASE
+- Remittance split: REMITTANCE_SPLIT_CONTRACT_ID
+- Savings goals: SAVINGS_GOALS_CONTRACT_ID
+- Bill payments: BILL_PAYMENTS_CONTRACT_ID
+- Insurance: INSURANCE_CONTRACT_ID
+- Family wallet: FAMILY_WALLET_CONTRACT_ID
+- Database-backed features: DATABASE_URL or POSTGRES_URL
+- Anchor integrations: ANCHOR_API_BASE_URL
+- NextAuth-based flows (if enabled): NEXTAUTH_SECRET or SESSION_SECRET
 
 ### API Middleware Configuration
 
diff --git a/lib/env.ts b/lib/env.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f8b4e94
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/env.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,41 @@
+import { z } from "zod";
+
+const EnvSchema = z.object({
+  SOROBAN_RPC_URL: z
+    .string()
+    .default("https://soroban-testnet.stellar.org"),
+  SOROBAN_NETWORK_PASSPHRASE: z
+    .string()
+    .default("Test SDF Network ; September 2015"),
+  REMITTANCE_SPLIT_CONTRACT_ID: z.string().optional().default(""),
+  SAVINGS_GOALS_CONTRACT_ID: z.string().optional().default(""),
+  BILL_PAYMENTS_CONTRACT_ID: z.string().optional().default(""),
+  INSURANCE_CONTRACT_ID: z.string().optional().default(""),
+  FAMILY_WALLET_CONTRACT_ID: z.string().optional().default(""),
+  DATABASE_URL: z
+    .string()
+    .optional()
+    .default(process.env.POSTGRES_URL ?? ""),
+  POSTGRES_URL: z.string().optional().default(""),
+  NEXTAUTH_SECRET: z
+    .string()
+    .optional()
+    .default(process.env.SESSION_SECRET ?? ""),
+  SESSION_SECRET: z.string().optional().default(""),
+  ANCHOR_API_BASE_URL: z.string().optional().default(""),
+});
+
+const parsed = EnvSchema.parse(process.env);
+
+export type Env = z.infer<typeof EnvSchema>;
+
+export const env: Env = parsed;
+
+export function requireEnv(keys: Array<keyof Env>): void {
+  for (const k of keys) {
+    const v = parsed[k];
+    if (typeof v === "string" && v.trim() === "") {
+      throw new Error(`Missing required environment variable: ${k as string}`);
+    }
+  }
+}
diff --git a/lib/soroban/client.ts b/lib/soroban/client.ts
index 9dbd4a8..5e9bcbe 100644
--- a/lib/soroban/client.ts
+++ b/lib/soroban/client.ts
@@ -15,14 +15,14 @@
  */
 
 import { SorobanRpc, Networks } from "@stellar/stellar-sdk";
+import { env } from "@/lib/env";
 
 // ── Configuration ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
 
-const RPC_URL =
-  process.env.SOROBAN_RPC_URL ?? "https://soroban-testnet.stellar.org";
+const RPC_URL = env.SOROBAN_RPC_URL ?? "https://soroban-testnet.stellar.org";
 
 const NETWORK_PASSPHRASE =
-  process.env.SOROBAN_NETWORK_PASSPHRASE ?? Networks.TESTNET;
+  env.SOROBAN_NETWORK_PASSPHRASE ?? Networks.TESTNET;
 
 /** How long (ms) to wait for a single RPC call before aborting. */
 const TIMEOUT_MS = 10_000;
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ let _server: SorobanRpc.Server | null = null;
 export function getServer(): SorobanRpc.Server {
   if (!_server) {
     _server = new SorobanRpc.Server(RPC_URL, {
-      allowHttp: RPC_URL.startsWith("http://"), // only allow plain HTTP for local dev
+      allowHttp: RPC_URL.startsWith("http://"),
     });
   }
   return _server;
@@ -140,4 +140,4 @@ export class SorobanClientError extends Error {
     this.name = "SorobanClientError";
     this.cause = cause;
   }
-}
\ No newline at end of file
+}