diff --git a/lib/who_need_help/help.ex b/lib/who_need_help/help.ex
index 49267c9..cff2fd0 100644
--- a/lib/who_need_help/help.ex
+++ b/lib/who_need_help/help.ex
@@ -175,22 +175,27 @@ defmodule WhoNeedHelp.Help do
   end
 
   def create_request(%Scope{user: user}, attrs) do
+    changeset =
+      %HelpRequest{requester_id: user.id}
+      |> HelpRequest.create_changeset(attrs)
+      |> validate_structured_data()
+
     result =
-      with {:ok, _limit} <- Trust.authorize_action(Scope.for_user(user), :create_request) do
-        Repo.transact(fn ->
-          with {:ok, request} <-
-                 %HelpRequest{requester_id: user.id}
-                 |> HelpRequest.create_changeset(attrs)
-                 |> validate_structured_data()
-                 |> Repo.insert(),
-               {:ok, _audit} <-
-                 Trust.audit(user.id, "request.created", "request", request.id, %{
-                   "urgency" => to_string(request.urgency),
-                   "category_id" => request.category_id
-                 }) do
-            {:ok, request}
-          end
-        end)
+      if changeset.valid? do
+        with {:ok, _limit} <- Trust.authorize_action(Scope.for_user(user), :create_request) do
+          Repo.transact(fn ->
+            with {:ok, request} <- Repo.insert(changeset),
+                 {:ok, _audit} <-
+                   Trust.audit(user.id, "request.created", "request", request.id, %{
+                     "urgency" => to_string(request.urgency),
+                     "category_id" => request.category_id
+                   }) do
+              {:ok, request}
+            end
+          end)
+        end
+      else
+        {:error, changeset}
       end
 
     with {:ok, request} <- result do
diff --git a/lib/who_need_help_web/live/request_live/new.ex b/lib/who_need_help_web/live/request_live/new.ex
index 9b45498..300ef40 100644
--- a/lib/who_need_help_web/live/request_live/new.ex
+++ b/lib/who_need_help_web/live/request_live/new.ex
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@ defmodule WhoNeedHelpWeb.RequestLive.New do
      |> assign(:categories, Catalog.list_categories())
      |> assign(:selected_category, nil)
      |> assign(:structured_fields, [])
+     |> assign(:submission_errors, [])
      |> assign(:form, to_form(changeset))}
   end
 
@@ -39,6 +40,7 @@ defmodule WhoNeedHelpWeb.RequestLive.New do
     {:noreply,
      socket
      |> assign(:form, to_form(changeset))
+     |> maybe_refresh_submission_errors(changeset)
      |> assign_category(params)}
   end
 
@@ -57,6 +59,7 @@ defmodule WhoNeedHelpWeb.RequestLive.New do
           {:noreply,
            socket
            |> assign(:form, to_form(changeset))
+           |> assign(:submission_errors, submission_errors(changeset))
            |> assign_category(params)}
         else
           {:noreply, put_flash(socket, :error, error_message(changeset))}
@@ -78,6 +81,34 @@ defmodule WhoNeedHelpWeb.RequestLive.New do
 
   defp normalize_expiry(params), do: params
 
+  defp maybe_refresh_submission_errors(%{assigns: %{submission_errors: []}} = socket, _changeset),
+    do: socket
+
+  defp maybe_refresh_submission_errors(socket, changeset),
+    do: assign(socket, :submission_errors, submission_errors(changeset))
+
+  defp submission_errors(changeset) do
+    changeset.errors
+    |> Enum.map(fn
+      {:location, _error} ->
+        {:location,
+         gettext("Choose a location using the button or enter both latitude and longitude.")}
+
+      {:expires_at, _error} ->
+        {:expires_at, gettext("Choose an expiry time in the future.")}
+
+      {field, error} ->
+        {field, "#{Phoenix.Naming.humanize(field)}: #{translate_error(error)}"}
+    end)
+    |> Enum.uniq()
+  end
+
+  defp minimum_expiry_value do
+    DateTime.utc_now(:second)
+    |> DateTime.add(60, :second)
+    |> Calendar.strftime("%Y-%m-%dT%H:%M")
+  end
+
   defp assign_category(socket, params) do
     category =
       Enum.find(socket.assigns.categories, &(&1.id == params["category_id"]))
@@ -304,6 +335,7 @@ defmodule WhoNeedHelpWeb.RequestLive.New do
               field={@form[:expires_at]}
               type="datetime-local"
               label={gettext("Request expires (UTC)")}
+              min={minimum_expiry_value()}
             />
           </div>
           <.input
@@ -323,18 +355,21 @@ defmodule WhoNeedHelpWeb.RequestLive.New do
             ]}
           />
           <div class="rounded-2xl bg-base-200 p-5">
+            <h2 class="font-bold">{gettext("Location coordinates (required)")}</h2>
             <button
               type="button"
               phx-hook="LocationPicker"
               id="location-picker"
               data-latitude-target="#request-latitude"
               data-longitude-target="#request-longitude"
-              class="btn btn-outline btn-sm"
+              class="btn btn-outline btn-sm mt-3"
             >
               {gettext("Use my current foreground location")}
             </button>
             <p class="mt-2 text-xs text-base-content/60">
-              {gettext("You can also enter coordinates manually for local testing.")}
+              {gettext(
+                "Use the button or enter both coordinates. Public map precision follows the visibility choice above."
+              )}
             </p>
             <div class="mt-3 grid grid-cols-2 gap-3">
               <.input
@@ -352,6 +387,14 @@ defmodule WhoNeedHelpWeb.RequestLive.New do
                 label={gettext("Longitude")}
               />
             </div>
+            <p
+              :for={{:location, message} <- @submission_errors}
+              id="request-location-error"
+              class="mt-3 flex items-center gap-2 text-sm font-semibold text-error"
+            >
+              <.icon name="hero-exclamation-circle" class="size-5" />
+              {message}
+            </p>
           </div>
           <div class="rounded-2xl border border-base-300 p-4 text-sm">
             <.input
@@ -362,6 +405,22 @@ defmodule WhoNeedHelpWeb.RequestLive.New do
               class="checkbox checkbox-success mt-0.5"
             />
           </div>
+          <div
+            :if={@submission_errors != []}
+            id="request-submit-errors"
+            role="alert"
+            aria-live="assertive"
+            class="alert alert-error items-start"
+          >
+            <.icon name="hero-exclamation-triangle" class="mt-0.5 size-5 shrink-0" />
+            <div>
+              <h2 class="font-bold">{gettext("Request was not published")}</h2>
+              <p class="text-sm">{gettext("Fix the following details and publish again:")}</p>
+              <ul class="mt-2 list-disc space-y-1 pl-5 text-sm">
+                <li :for={{_field, message} <- @submission_errors}>{message}</li>
+              </ul>
+            </div>
+          </div>
           <.button
             class="btn btn-primary btn-lg w-full"
             phx-disable-with={gettext("Publishing…")}
diff --git a/test/who_need_help/trust_safety_test.exs b/test/who_need_help/trust_safety_test.exs
index f8e3c9e..3096bbf 100644
--- a/test/who_need_help/trust_safety_test.exs
+++ b/test/who_need_help/trust_safety_test.exs
@@ -305,6 +305,27 @@ defmodule WhoNeedHelp.TrustSafetyTest do
            )
   end
 
+  test "invalid request forms do not consume the publication rate limit", context do
+    old = Application.get_env(:who_need_help, :rate_limit_policies)
+
+    Application.put_env(:who_need_help, :rate_limit_policies, %{
+      "create_request" => %{"limit" => 1, "window_seconds" => 60}
+    })
+
+    on_exit(fn -> Application.put_env(:who_need_help, :rate_limit_policies, old) end)
+
+    invalid = Map.drop(context.attrs, ["latitude", "longitude"])
+
+    assert {:error, %Ecto.Changeset{}} =
+             Help.create_request(context.requester_scope, invalid)
+
+    assert {:ok, _request} =
+             Help.create_request(context.requester_scope, context.attrs)
+
+    assert {:error, :rate_limited} =
+             Help.create_request(context.requester_scope, context.attrs)
+  end
+
   test "malformed runtime rate-limit configuration never crashes a request", context do
     old = Application.get_env(:who_need_help, :rate_limit_policies)
     Application.put_env(:who_need_help, :rate_limit_policies, ["not", "a", "map"])
diff --git a/test/who_need_help_web/live/mutual_aid_live_test.exs b/test/who_need_help_web/live/mutual_aid_live_test.exs
index e1eb03e..8da5775 100644
--- a/test/who_need_help_web/live/mutual_aid_live_test.exs
+++ b/test/who_need_help_web/live/mutual_aid_live_test.exs
@@ -267,6 +267,31 @@ defmodule WhoNeedHelpWeb.MutualAidLiveTest do
            )
   end
 
+  test "new request form explains location and expiry validation failures", %{conn: conn} do
+    category = Catalog.seed_defaults()
+    {:ok, view, _html} = live(conn, ~p"/requests/new")
+
+    params =
+      category
+      |> request_attrs()
+      |> Map.drop(["latitude", "longitude"])
+      |> Map.put(
+        "expires_at",
+        DateTime.utc_now(:second)
+        |> DateTime.add(-60, :second)
+        |> Calendar.strftime("%Y-%m-%dT%H:%M")
+      )
+
+    html = render_submit(view, "save", %{"help_request" => params})
+
+    assert html =~ "Request was not published"
+    assert html =~ "Choose a location using the button or enter both latitude and longitude."
+    assert html =~ "Choose an expiry time in the future."
+    assert has_element?(view, "#request-location-error")
+    assert has_element?(view, "#request-submit-errors[role='alert']")
+    assert has_element?(view, "#help_request_title[value='Medicine is ready at the pharmacy']")
+  end
+
   test "activity form is category-driven and separate from urgent help", %{conn: conn} do
     Catalog.seed_defaults()