diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 160a53c..321b93d 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -23,3 +23,27 @@ to ensure a change to an internal service that is used by multiple APIs does not
 ## Examples
 
 Please see the [Example](./example) directory.
+
+## Test-scoped resources
+
+Use `testy.Cleanup(t, cleanup)` immediately after acquiring a resource in a
+`Test` or `t.Run` callback. Callbacks run last-in, first-out after subtests, even
+when the test fails fatally or panics. A failing or panicking cleanup does not
+prevent earlier callbacks from running. Cleanup errors should fail the test;
+logging and ignoring them reports a misleading pass.
+
+`testy.Context(t)` returns a context canceled immediately before cleanup starts.
+Subtests inherit parent cancellation; native runs also honor the Go test deadline.
+Use a separate, bounded context for cleanup I/O. These helpers are optional
+capabilities, so existing custom `TestingT` implementations still compile, but
+must implement `Cleanup(func())` and `Context() context.Context` to use them.
+Legacy Before/After hooks are not resource scopes: migrate resource acquisition
+into a Test/Run callback before using the lifecycle helpers.
+
+Use ordinary named `t.Run` cases (or `TestEach`) for repeated contracts. Hosted
+execution can run packages concurrently and remains serial inside each package; `Parallel` is
+only effective with `RunAsTest`. Do not make acceptance correctness depend on
+subtest scheduling, and do not use a parent's `defer` to release resources needed
+by native parallel children. Cleanup waits for those children in native runs.
+These callbacks cannot recover resources after process termination; persistent
+fixture providers must retain ownership and support external reconciliation.
diff --git a/lifecycle.go b/lifecycle.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..40e2e99
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lifecycle.go
@@ -0,0 +1,74 @@
+package testy
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"sync"
+)
+
+// Cleanup registers f to run after this test and its subtests, in last-in,
+// first-out order. It runs on return, Fatal/FailNow, and panic. Register cleanup
+// immediately after acquiring a resource. Cleanup is supported in Test and Run
+// callbacks, not the legacy Before/After hooks.
+//
+// This optional capability leaves TestingT source-compatible with custom
+// implementations. Custom runners must implement Cleanup(func()) to use it;
+// unsupported implementations panic rather than silently leak resources.
+func Cleanup(t TestingT, f func()) {
+	t.Helper()
+	owner, ok := t.(interface{ Cleanup(func()) })
+	if !ok {
+		panic("testy: TestingT does not support Cleanup")
+	}
+	owner.Cleanup(f)
+}
+
+// Context returns this test's context, canceled immediately before its cleanup
+// callbacks run. Subtest contexts inherit their parent's cancellation. Cleanup
+// that performs I/O must use its own bounded context. Like Cleanup, this is an
+// optional capability for custom TestingT implementations and is unavailable in
+// legacy Before/After hooks.
+func Context(t TestingT) context.Context {
+	owner, ok := t.(interface{ Context() context.Context })
+	if !ok {
+		panic("testy: TestingT does not support Context")
+	}
+	return owner.Context()
+}
+
+type lifecycle struct {
+	ctx      context.Context
+	cancel   context.CancelFunc
+	mu       sync.Mutex
+	cleanups []func()
+}
+
+func newLifecycle(parent context.Context) *lifecycle {
+	ctx, cancel := context.WithCancel(parent)
+	return &lifecycle{ctx: ctx, cancel: cancel}
+}
+
+func (l *lifecycle) add(f func()) {
+	if f == nil {
+		panic("testy: nil cleanup")
+	}
+	l.mu.Lock()
+	defer l.mu.Unlock()
+	l.cleanups = append(l.cleanups, f)
+}
+
+// Each callback defers the remainder so even panic or Goexit cannot abandon
+// earlier registrations. Pop at execution time to support nested registration.
+func (l *lifecycle) finish() {
+	l.cancel()
+	l.mu.Lock()
+	if len(l.cleanups) == 0 {
+		l.mu.Unlock()
+		return
+	}
+	i := len(l.cleanups) - 1
+	f := l.cleanups[i]
+	l.cleanups = l.cleanups[:i]
+	l.mu.Unlock()
+	defer l.finish()
+	f()
+}
diff --git a/lifecycle_test.go b/lifecycle_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..08407cb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lifecycle_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,189 @@
+package testy
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"os"
+	"os/exec"
+	"reflect"
+	"strings"
+	"testing"
+	"time"
+
+	"github.com/gametimesf/testy/internal/orderedmap"
+)
+
+func lifecycleExercise(t TestingT, mode string, record func(string)) {
+	ctx := Context(t)
+	Cleanup(t, func() { record("first") })
+	Cleanup(t, func() {
+		if ctx.Err() != context.Canceled {
+			t.Errorf("context was not canceled before cleanup")
+		}
+		record("last")
+		switch mode {
+		case "cleanup-fatal":
+			t.Fatal("cleanup failure")
+		case "cleanup-panic":
+			panic("cleanup failure")
+		case "nested-cleanup":
+			Cleanup(t, func() { record("nested") })
+		}
+	})
+	t.Run("child", func(child TestingT) {
+		childCtx := Context(child)
+		if childCtx == ctx {
+			child.Fatal("child must have its own context")
+		}
+		Cleanup(child, func() { record("child") })
+	})
+	if ctx.Err() != nil {
+		t.Errorf("child cleanup canceled parent")
+	}
+	switch mode {
+	case "fatal":
+		t.Fatal("body failure")
+	case "panic":
+		panic("body failure")
+	}
+}
+
+func TestHostedLifecycle(t *testing.T) {
+	for _, mode := range []string{"normal", "fatal", "panic", "cleanup-fatal", "cleanup-panic", "nested-cleanup"} {
+		t.Run(mode, func(t *testing.T) {
+			var got []string
+			result := runTest("lifecycle", mode, func(tt TestingT) {
+				lifecycleExercise(tt, mode, func(s string) { got = append(got, s) })
+			})
+			want := []string{"child", "last", "first"}
+			if mode == "nested-cleanup" {
+				want = []string{"child", "last", "nested", "first"}
+			}
+			if !reflect.DeepEqual(want, got) {
+				t.Fatalf("cleanup order: got %v want %v", got, want)
+			}
+			failed := mode != "normal" && mode != "nested-cleanup"
+			if (result.Result == ResultFailed) != failed {
+				t.Fatalf("unexpected result %s", result.Result)
+			}
+		})
+	}
+}
+
+// A subprocess exercises native testing.T fatal/panic paths without making the
+// parent suite fail. The same behavior is checked against the hosted runner above.
+func TestNativeLifecycle(t *testing.T) {
+	if mode := os.Getenv("TESTY_LIFECYCLE_MODE"); mode != "" {
+		lifecycleExercise(newTWrapper(t, context.Background()), mode, func(s string) { t.Log("cleanup-marker:" + s) })
+		return
+	}
+	for _, mode := range []string{"normal", "fatal", "panic", "cleanup-fatal", "cleanup-panic", "nested-cleanup"} {
+		t.Run(mode, func(t *testing.T) {
+			cmd := exec.Command(os.Args[0], "-test.run=^TestNativeLifecycle$", "-test.v")
+			cmd.Env = append(os.Environ(), "TESTY_LIFECYCLE_MODE="+mode)
+			output, err := cmd.CombinedOutput()
+			failed := mode != "normal" && mode != "nested-cleanup"
+			if (err != nil) != failed {
+				t.Fatalf("exit error=%v: %s", err, output)
+			}
+			markers := []string{"child", "last", "first"}
+			if mode == "nested-cleanup" {
+				markers = []string{"child", "last", "nested", "first"}
+			}
+			text := string(output)
+			for _, marker := range markers {
+				i := strings.Index(text, "cleanup-marker:"+marker)
+				if i < 0 {
+					t.Fatalf("missing or out-of-order %s: %s", marker, output)
+				}
+				text = text[i+len("cleanup-marker:"+marker):]
+			}
+			if strings.Contains(string(output), "context was not canceled") || strings.Contains(string(output), "child cleanup canceled") {
+				t.Fatalf("context lifecycle: %s", output)
+			}
+		})
+	}
+}
+
+func TestNativeParallelChildKeepsParentFixture(t *testing.T) {
+	parent := newTWrapper(t, context.Background())
+	alive := true
+	Cleanup(parent, func() { alive = false })
+	parent.Run("parallel", func(child TestingT) {
+		child.Parallel()
+		if !alive {
+			child.Fatal("parent fixture cleaned before parallel child")
+		}
+	})
+}
+
+func TestLifecycleHooksRejected(t *testing.T) {
+	for _, tt := range []TestingT{&tHelper{}, tWrapper{t: t}} {
+		func() {
+			defer func() {
+				if recover() == nil {
+					t.Error("unsupported cleanup must panic")
+				}
+			}()
+			Cleanup(tt, func() {})
+		}()
+	}
+}
+
+// Embedding preserves source compatibility with existing custom TestingT types.
+type tHelper struct{ TestingT }
+
+func (*tHelper) Helper() {}
+
+func TestLifecycleAfterTestParity(t *testing.T) {
+	for _, runner := range []string{"native", "hosted"} {
+		t.Run(runner, func(t *testing.T) {
+			var order []string
+			pkg := &testPkg{tests: orderedmap.OrderedMap[string, testCase]{}}
+			pkg.BeforeTest = func(TestingT) { order = append(order, "before") }
+			pkg.AfterTest = func(TestingT) { order = append(order, "after") }
+			pkg.tests["case"] = testCase{Name: "case", tester: func(tt TestingT) {
+				order = append(order, "body")
+				Cleanup(tt, func() { order = append(order, "cleanup") })
+			}}
+			if runner == "hosted" {
+				runPackage("lifecycle", pkg)
+			} else {
+				previous := instance
+				instance = testy{tests: orderedmap.OrderedMap[string, *testPkg]{"lifecycle": pkg}}
+				defer func() { instance = previous }()
+				t.Run("suite", RunAsTest)
+			}
+			if !reflect.DeepEqual(order, []string{"before", "body", "cleanup", "after"}) {
+				t.Fatalf("order %v", order)
+			}
+		})
+	}
+}
+
+func TestLifecycleContextInheritance(t *testing.T) {
+	parent, cancel := context.WithCancel(context.Background())
+	wrapper := newTWrapper(t, parent)
+	cancel()
+	if Context(wrapper).Err() != context.Canceled {
+		t.Fatal("wrapper did not inherit parent cancellation")
+	}
+	result := runTestContext(parent, "lifecycle", "canceled", func(tt TestingT) {
+		if Context(tt).Err() != context.Canceled {
+			tt.Fatal("hosted test did not inherit cancellation")
+		}
+		tt.Run("child", func(child TestingT) {
+			if Context(child).Err() != context.Canceled {
+				child.Fatal("child did not inherit cancellation")
+			}
+		})
+	})
+	if result.Result != ResultPassed {
+		t.Fatalf("result %+v", result)
+	}
+	deadlineParent, stop := context.WithTimeout(context.Background(), time.Minute)
+	defer stop()
+	child := newTWrapper(t, deadlineParent)
+	if _, ok := Context(child).Deadline(); !ok {
+		t.Fatal("deadline was dropped")
+	}
+}
diff --git a/run.go b/run.go
index fc88c46..d797c19 100644
--- a/run.go
+++ b/run.go
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 package testy
 
 import (
+	"context"
 	"errors"
 	"fmt"
 	"runtime/debug"
@@ -60,9 +61,10 @@ func RunAsTest(t *testing.T) {
 				t.Run(test.Name, func(tt *testing.T) {
 					tt.Helper()
 
-					// if we have an AfterTest, defer it so it always runs even if BeforeTest or the test itself panic
+					// Register enclosing teardown before the test lifecycle so it runs
+					// after resource cleanup, including fatal/panic and parallel children.
 					if pkgTests.AfterTest != nil {
-						defer pkgTests.AfterTest(tWrapper{t: tt})
+						tt.Cleanup(func() { pkgTests.AfterTest(tWrapper{t: tt}) })
 					}
 
 					// if we have a BeforeTest, just run it directly; panics will sort themselves out
@@ -70,7 +72,7 @@ func RunAsTest(t *testing.T) {
 						pkgTests.BeforeTest(tWrapper{t: tt})
 					}
 
-					test.tester(tWrapper{t: tt})
+					test.tester(newTWrapper(tt, context.Background()))
 				})
 				return true
 			})
@@ -370,6 +372,10 @@ func runPackage(pkg string, pkgTests *testPkg) TestResult {
 }
 
 func runTest(pkg, baseName string, tester Tester) TestResult {
+	return runTestContext(context.Background(), pkg, baseName, tester)
+}
+
+func runTestContext(ctx context.Context, pkg, baseName string, tester Tester) TestResult {
 	result := TestResult{
 		Package: pkg,
 		Name:    baseName,
@@ -378,6 +384,7 @@ func runTest(pkg, baseName string, tester Tester) TestResult {
 	subtests := make(chan subtest)
 	subtestDone := make(chan bool)
 	t := &t{
+		lifecycle:   newLifecycle(ctx),
 		name:        baseName,
 		tester:      tester,
 		subtests:    subtests,
@@ -391,7 +398,7 @@ func runTest(pkg, baseName string, tester Tester) TestResult {
 	go func() {
 		defer stWg.Done()
 		for st := range subtests {
-			stResult := runTest(pkg, baseName+"/"+st.name, st.tester)
+			stResult := runTestContext(t.Context(), pkg, baseName+"/"+st.name, st.tester)
 			if stResult.Result == ResultFailed {
 				// TODO does this need to be an atomic operation?
 				anyFailures = true
diff --git a/t.go b/t.go
index 671bad7..ced7241 100644
--- a/t.go
+++ b/t.go
@@ -1,12 +1,14 @@
 package testy
 
 import (
+	"context"
 	"fmt"
 	"runtime"
 	"strings"
 )
 
 type t struct {
+	lifecycle   *lifecycle
 	name        string
 	tester      Tester
 	failed      bool
@@ -38,6 +40,7 @@ func (t *t) run() {
 		close(t.subtests)
 	}()
 
+	defer t.lifecycle.finish()
 	t.tester(t)
 }
 
@@ -95,3 +98,17 @@ func (t *t) Run(name string, tester Tester) bool {
 // Parallel does nothing for this implementation.
 // TODO figure out how to support it.
 func (*t) Parallel() {}
+
+func (t *t) Cleanup(f func()) {
+	if t.lifecycle == nil {
+		panic("testy: Cleanup is only supported in Test and Run callbacks")
+	}
+	t.lifecycle.add(f)
+}
+
+func (t *t) Context() context.Context {
+	if t.lifecycle == nil {
+		panic("testy: Context is only supported in Test and Run callbacks")
+	}
+	return t.lifecycle.ctx
+}
diff --git a/twrapper.go b/twrapper.go
index 83b8c5f..457e657 100644
--- a/twrapper.go
+++ b/twrapper.go
@@ -1,12 +1,14 @@
 package testy
 
 import (
+	"context"
 	"testing"
 )
 
 // tWrapper wraps a real testing.T, because Run takes a concrete implementation.
 type tWrapper struct {
-	t *testing.T
+	t         *testing.T
+	lifecycle *lifecycle
 }
 
 var _ TestingT = (*tWrapper)(nil)
@@ -55,10 +57,40 @@ func (t tWrapper) Run(s string, tester Tester) bool {
 	t.t.Helper()
 	return t.t.Run(s, func(tt *testing.T) {
 		t.t.Helper()
-		tester(tWrapper{t: tt})
+		parent := context.Background()
+		if t.lifecycle != nil {
+			parent = t.lifecycle.ctx
+		}
+		tester(newTWrapper(tt, parent))
 	})
 }
 
 func (t tWrapper) Parallel() {
 	t.t.Parallel()
 }
+
+func newTWrapper(t *testing.T, parent context.Context) tWrapper {
+	l := newLifecycle(parent)
+	if deadline, ok := t.Deadline(); ok {
+		ctx, cancel := context.WithDeadline(l.ctx, deadline)
+		l.ctx = ctx
+		previousCancel := l.cancel
+		l.cancel = func() { cancel(); previousCancel() }
+	}
+	t.Cleanup(l.finish)
+	return tWrapper{t: t, lifecycle: l}
+}
+
+func (t tWrapper) Cleanup(f func()) {
+	if t.lifecycle == nil {
+		panic("testy: Cleanup is only supported in Test and Run callbacks")
+	}
+	t.lifecycle.add(f)
+}
+
+func (t tWrapper) Context() context.Context {
+	if t.lifecycle == nil {
+		panic("testy: Context is only supported in Test and Run callbacks")
+	}
+	return t.lifecycle.ctx
+}