diff --git a/ClaimLink/ClaimLinkChatCommand.cs b/ClaimLink/ClaimLinkChatCommand.cs
index d6a09bf..90ce34f 100644
--- a/ClaimLink/ClaimLinkChatCommand.cs
+++ b/ClaimLink/ClaimLinkChatCommand.cs
@@ -329,6 +329,7 @@ public static class ClaimLinkChatCommand
         string groupName = (string)args[0];
         IPlayer target = (IPlayer)args[1];
         IPlayer player = args.Caller.Player;
+        string playerUid = player.PlayerUID;
 
         TextCommandResult? err = TryResolveGroup(groupName, out PlayerGroup group);
         if (err != null) return err;
@@ -342,36 +343,39 @@ public static class ClaimLinkChatCommand
         err = RequireMember(target, group);
         if (err != null) return err;
 
-        if (target.PlayerUID == player.PlayerUID)
-            return TextCommandResult.Error($"You already own '{groupName}'.");
+        err = RequireNotAlreadyOwner(group, target);
+        if (err != null) return err;
 
-        string playerUid = player.PlayerUID;
-        string targetName = target.PlayerName;
+        return Stage(playerUid, $"Ownership of '{groupName}' will be transferred to {target.PlayerName}.",
+            () => ExecuteTransferOwnership(group, target));
+    }
+
+    private static TextCommandResult? RequireNotAlreadyOwner(PlayerGroup group, IPlayer target)
+    {
+        return target.PlayerUID == group.OwnerUID
+            ? TextCommandResult.Error($"{target.PlayerName} already owns '{group.Name}'.")
+            : null;
+    }
+
+    private static TextCommandResult ExecuteTransferOwnership(PlayerGroup group, IPlayer target)
+    {
+        string oldOwnerUid = group.OwnerUID;
         string targetUid = target.PlayerUID;
-
-        EnumPlayerGroupMemberShip oldOwnerLevel = player.GetGroup(group.Uid)!.Level;
+        IPlayer? oldOwner = ClaimLinkModSystem.World.PlayerByUid(oldOwnerUid);
+        EnumPlayerGroupMemberShip? oldOwnerLevel = oldOwner?.GetGroup(group.Uid)?.Level;
         EnumPlayerGroupMemberShip targetLevel = target.GetGroup(group.Uid)!.Level;
 
-        return Stage(playerUid, $"Ownership of '{groupName}' will be transferred to {targetName}.", () =>
-        {
-            string beforeOwnerUid = group.OwnerUID;
+        // TODO remove debug logging once transfer ownership persistence is confirmed tested
+        ClaimLinkModSystem.Logger.Notification(
+            $"claimlink: transferownership '{group.Name}' (uid {group.Uid}) BEFORE OwnerUID={oldOwnerUid} " +
+            $"(old owner {oldOwner?.PlayerName ?? oldOwnerUid} level={oldOwnerLevel}, new owner {target.PlayerName}/{targetUid} level={targetLevel})");
 
-            // TODO remove debug logging once transfer ownership persistence is confirmed tested
-            ClaimLinkModSystem.Logger.Notification(
-                $"claimlink: transferownership '{groupName}' (uid {group.Uid}) BEFORE OwnerUID={beforeOwnerUid} " +
-                $"(old owner {player.PlayerName}/{playerUid} level={oldOwnerLevel}, new owner {targetName}/{targetUid} level={targetLevel})");
+        group.OwnerUID = targetUid;
 
-            group.OwnerUID = targetUid;
+        ClaimLinkModSystem.Logger.Notification(
+            $"claimlink: transferownership '{group.Name}' (uid {group.Uid}) AFTER OwnerUID={group.OwnerUID}");
 
-            EnumPlayerGroupMemberShip afterOldOwnerLevel = player.GetGroup(group.Uid)!.Level;
-            EnumPlayerGroupMemberShip afterTargetLevel = target.GetGroup(group.Uid)!.Level;
-
-            ClaimLinkModSystem.Logger.Notification(
-                $"claimlink: transferownership '{groupName}' (uid {group.Uid}) AFTER OwnerUID={group.OwnerUID} " +
-                $"(old owner {player.PlayerName}/{playerUid} level={afterOldOwnerLevel}, new owner {targetName}/{targetUid} level={afterTargetLevel})");
-
-            return TextCommandResult.Success($"'{groupName}' is now owned by {targetName}.");
-        });
+        return TextCommandResult.Success($"'{group.Name}' is now owned by {target.PlayerName}.");
     }
 
     public static TextCommandResult Info(TextCommandCallingArgs args)
@@ -434,6 +438,24 @@ public static class ClaimLinkChatCommand
     public static TextCommandResult AdminDelete(TextCommandCallingArgs args) => TextCommandResult.Success("stub: claimlink admin delete");
     public static TextCommandResult AdminUnlink(TextCommandCallingArgs args) => TextCommandResult.Success("stub: claimlink admin unlink");
     public static TextCommandResult AdminKick(TextCommandCallingArgs args) => TextCommandResult.Success("stub: claimlink admin kick");
-    public static TextCommandResult AdminTransferOwnership(TextCommandCallingArgs args) => TextCommandResult.Success("stub: claimlink admin transferownership");
+    public static TextCommandResult AdminTransferOwnership(TextCommandCallingArgs args)
+    {
+        string groupName = (string)args[0];
+        IPlayer target = (IPlayer)args[1];
+
+        TextCommandResult? err = TryResolveGroup(groupName, out PlayerGroup group);
+        if (err != null) return err;
+
+        err = TryResolveClaimLink(group, out _);
+        if (err != null) return err;
+
+        err = RequireMember(target, group);
+        if (err != null) return err;
+
+        err = RequireNotAlreadyOwner(group, target);
+        if (err != null) return err;
+
+        return ExecuteTransferOwnership(group, target);
+    }
     public static TextCommandResult AdminInfo(TextCommandCallingArgs args) => TextCommandResult.Success("stub: claimlink admin info");
 }