diff --git a/app/RSpade/Core/Js/Form_Utils.js b/app/RSpade/Core/Js/Form_Utils.js
index c05d3f1de..cdc934c86 100755
--- a/app/RSpade/Core/Js/Form_Utils.js
+++ b/app/RSpade/Core/Js/Form_Utils.js
@@ -107,7 +107,8 @@ class Form_Utils {
             // Resolve the promise once all animations are complete
             Promise.all(animations).then(() => {
                 // Scroll to error container if it exists
-                const $error_container = $parent.find('[data-sid="error_container"]').first();
+                const component = $parent.component();
+                const $error_container = component ? component.$sid('error_container') : $();
                 if ($error_container.length > 0) {
                     const container_top = $error_container.offset().top;
 
@@ -251,9 +252,10 @@ class Form_Utils {
             }
 
             // Convert Laravel validator format {field: [msg1, msg2]} to {field: msg1}
+            // Skip reserved keys (prefixed with underscore) - these are metadata, not field errors
             const normalized = {};
             for (const field in errors) {
-                if (errors.hasOwnProperty(field)) {
+                if (errors.hasOwnProperty(field) && !field.startsWith('_')) {
                     const value = errors[field];
                     if (Array.isArray(value) && value.length > 0) {
                         normalized[field] = value[0];
@@ -345,7 +347,8 @@ class Form_Utils {
      */
     static _apply_combined_error($parent, summary_msg, unmatched_errors) {
         const animations = [];
-        const $error_container = $parent.find('[data-sid="error_container"]').first();
+        const component = $parent.component();
+        const $error_container = component ? component.$sid('error_container') : $();
         const $target = $error_container.length > 0 ? $error_container : $parent;
 
         // Create alert with summary message and bulleted list of unmatched errors
@@ -386,7 +389,8 @@ class Form_Utils {
         const animations = [];
 
         // Look for a specific error container div (e.g., in Rsx_Form component)
-        const $error_container = $parent.find('[data-sid="error_container"]').first();
+        const component = $parent.component();
+        const $error_container = component ? component.$sid('error_container') : $();
         const $target = $error_container.length > 0 ? $error_container : $parent;
 
         if (typeof messages === 'string') {
diff --git a/app/RSpade/Core/Response/Error_Response.php b/app/RSpade/Core/Response/Error_Response.php
index 5fc0bf63d..bf5cb56b3 100755
--- a/app/RSpade/Core/Response/Error_Response.php
+++ b/app/RSpade/Core/Response/Error_Response.php
@@ -28,16 +28,16 @@ class Error_Response extends Rsx_Response_Abstract
         if ($metadata === null) {
             $this->metadata = [];
         } elseif (is_string($metadata)) {
-            $this->metadata = ['message' => $metadata];
+            $this->metadata = ['_message' => $metadata];
         } elseif (is_array($metadata)) {
             $this->metadata = $metadata;
         } else {
-            $this->metadata = ['message' => (string)$metadata];
+            $this->metadata = ['_message' => (string)$metadata];
         }
 
         // Set reason from message or use default
-        if (isset($this->metadata['message'])) {
-            $this->reason = $this->metadata['message'];
+        if (isset($this->metadata['_message'])) {
+            $this->reason = $this->metadata['_message'];
         } else {
             $this->reason = Ajax::get_default_message($error_code);
         }
diff --git a/app/RSpade/helpers.php b/app/RSpade/helpers.php
index 68ff37f79..4a32f28fc 100755
--- a/app/RSpade/helpers.php
+++ b/app/RSpade/helpers.php
@@ -1089,6 +1089,57 @@ function response_not_found(?string $message = null)
     return response_error(\App\RSpade\Core\Ajax\Ajax::ERROR_NOT_FOUND, $message);
 }
 
+/**
+ * Create a form validation error response
+ *
+ * Use this for validation errors with field-specific messages.
+ * The client-side form handling will apply errors to matching fields.
+ *
+ * @param string $message Summary message for the error
+ * @param array $field_errors Field-specific errors as ['field_name' => 'error message']
+ * @return \App\RSpade\Core\Response\Error_Response
+ */
+function response_form_error(string $message, array $field_errors = [])
+{
+    return response_error(
+        \App\RSpade\Core\Ajax\Ajax::ERROR_VALIDATION,
+        array_merge(['_message' => $message], $field_errors)
+    );
+}
+
+/**
+ * Create an authentication required error response
+ *
+ * Use this when the user is not logged in and needs to authenticate.
+ * Distinct from response_unauthorized() which is for permission denied.
+ *
+ * @param string|null $message Custom error message (optional)
+ * @return \App\RSpade\Core\Response\Error_Response
+ */
+function response_auth_required(?string $message = null)
+{
+    return response_error(\App\RSpade\Core\Ajax\Ajax::ERROR_AUTH_REQUIRED, $message);
+}
+
+/**
+ * Create a fatal error response
+ *
+ * Use this for unrecoverable errors that prevent the operation from completing.
+ * These are typically logged and displayed prominently to the user.
+ *
+ * @param string|null $message Error message
+ * @param array $details Additional error details (e.g., file, line, backtrace)
+ * @return \App\RSpade\Core\Response\Error_Response
+ */
+function response_fatal_error(?string $message = null, array $details = [])
+{
+    $metadata = $details;
+    if ($message !== null) {
+        $metadata['_message'] = $message;
+    }
+    return response_error(\App\RSpade\Core\Ajax\Ajax::ERROR_FATAL, $metadata ?: $message);
+}
+
 /**
  * Check if the current request is from a loopback IP address
  *
diff --git a/docs/BREAKING_CHANGES.md b/docs/BREAKING_CHANGES.md
index 3426a2713..108eb2538 100755
--- a/docs/BREAKING_CHANGES.md
+++ b/docs/BREAKING_CHANGES.md
@@ -97,17 +97,21 @@ class Frontend_Clients_Edit {
 
 ### Change
 
-Adopted unified `response_error()` function with error code constants. Same constant names on server and client for zero mental translation.
-
-**Note**: The fragmented helper functions (`response_form_error()`, `response_auth_required()`, etc.) shown in earlier documentation were a planned design that was superseded before implementation. Only `response_error()` exists.
+Adopted unified `response_error()` function with error code constants, plus convenience helpers. Same constant names on server and client for zero mental translation.
 
 ### Pattern
 
 ```php
-// Server - single function with constants
+// Server - base function with constants
 return response_error(Ajax::ERROR_VALIDATION, ['email' => 'Invalid']);
 return response_error(Ajax::ERROR_NOT_FOUND, 'Project not found');
-return response_error(Ajax::ERROR_UNAUTHORIZED);  // Auto-message
+
+// Convenience helpers (recommended for clarity)
+return response_form_error('Validation failed', ['email' => 'Invalid']);
+return response_not_found('Project not found');
+return response_unauthorized();
+return response_auth_required();
+return response_fatal_error('Something went wrong');
 ```
 
 ```javascript
diff --git a/docs/CLAUDE.dist.md b/docs/CLAUDE.dist.md
index 59b7cc034..69f82f2f3 100644
--- a/docs/CLAUDE.dist.md
+++ b/docs/CLAUDE.dist.md
@@ -912,7 +912,7 @@ async on_load() {
 // Controller: save() receives all form values, validates, persists
 #[Ajax_Endpoint]
 public static function save(Request $request, array $params = []) {
-    if (empty($params['title'])) return response_form_error('Error', ['title' => 'Required']);
+    if (empty($params['title'])) return response_form_error('Validation failed', ['title' => 'Required']);
     $record = $params['id'] ? My_Model::find($params['id']) : new My_Model();
     $record->title = $params['title'];
     $record->save();