diff --git a/app/models/strata/flows/question_page.rb b/app/models/strata/flows/question_page.rb
index da8b5720..b4a76df4 100644
--- a/app/models/strata/flows/question_page.rb
+++ b/app/models/strata/flows/question_page.rb
@@ -22,6 +22,33 @@ def completed?(record)
       record.valid?(@name.to_sym)
     end
 
+    def started?(record)
+      @fields.any? do |field|
+        field_names = field.is_a?(Hash) ? field.keys : [ field ]
+        field_names.any? do |name|
+          attribute_name = started_field_name(record, name)
+          value = record.public_send(attribute_name) if attribute_name
+          # An explicit boolean false is a real user-supplied answer (e.g. a "No"
+          # on a yes/no question), but `false.present?` is falsy in Rails.
+          value == false || value.present?
+        end
+      end
+    end
+
+    def started_field_name(record, name)
+      attribute_name = name.to_s
+      return attribute_name if record.respond_to?(attribute_name)
+
+      # Fields for accepts_nested_attributes_for associations are declared as
+      # :foo_attributes (matching the foo_attributes= setter used by form
+      # params), but only the bare association reader (record.foo) exists.
+      # Only strip the suffix when probing a nested-attributes field.
+      return unless attribute_name.end_with?("_attributes")
+
+      association_name = attribute_name.delete_suffix("_attributes")
+      association_name if record.respond_to?(association_name)
+    end
+
     def edit_pathname
       "edit_#{@name}"
     end
diff --git a/app/models/strata/flows/task.rb b/app/models/strata/flows/task.rb
index e5924ac8..92ef541a 100644
--- a/app/models/strata/flows/task.rb
+++ b/app/models/strata/flows/task.rb
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ def initialize(name, depends_on: nil, pages: [])
     end
 
     def started?(record)
-      @pages.any? { |page| page.completed?(record) }
+      @pages.any? { |page| page.started?(record) }
     end
 
     def completed?(record)
diff --git a/spec/dummy/app/previews/sample_task_list_preview.rb b/spec/dummy/app/previews/sample_task_list_preview.rb
index c33222e9..d1584dcf 100644
--- a/spec/dummy/app/previews/sample_task_list_preview.rb
+++ b/spec/dummy/app/previews/sample_task_list_preview.rb
@@ -32,6 +32,16 @@ def depends_on_no_tasks_completed
     render Strata::Flows::TaskListComponent.new(flow:, show_step_label: true)
   end
 
+  # @label First page empty, later page has data
+  # @note Personal Information has data on the second page (Date of Birth) but the first page (Name) is empty. Shows "Continue" because some sub-page has data, and routes to the first incomplete page.
+  def first_page_empty_later_page_has_data
+    flow = SampleFlow.new(FactoryBot.build_stubbed(
+      :sample_application_form,
+      date_of_birth: Date.new(1990, 5, 15)
+    ))
+    render Strata::Flows::TaskListComponent.new(flow:, show_step_label: true)
+  end
+
   # @label First task completed
   # @note Personal Information is completed, unlocking Employment Details. Leave Details still shows "Cannot start yet" because it depends on Employment Details.
   def depends_on_first_task_completed
diff --git a/spec/models/strata/flows/question_page_spec.rb b/spec/models/strata/flows/question_page_spec.rb
index 9a1504fb..bfe5d031 100644
--- a/spec/models/strata/flows/question_page_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/models/strata/flows/question_page_spec.rb
@@ -36,6 +36,13 @@
       expect(page).to be_completed(record)
     end
 
+    it "is started when the field has a value" do
+      expect(page).not_to be_started(record)
+
+      record.first_name = "Mary"
+      expect(page).to be_started(record)
+    end
+
     it "returns the correct pathnames" do
       expect(page.edit_pathname).to eq("edit_first_name")
       expect(page.update_pathname).to eq("update_first_name")
@@ -63,6 +70,170 @@
     end
   end
 
+  describe "#started? with a boolean field" do
+    before do
+      bool_class = Class.new do
+        include ActiveModel::Model
+        include ActiveModel::Attributes
+
+        attribute :consents, :boolean
+      end
+
+      stub_const("BooleanModel", bool_class)
+    end
+
+    let(:record) { BooleanModel.new }
+    let(:page) { described_class.new("consents") }
+
+    it "is not started when the field is nil" do
+      expect(page).not_to be_started(record)
+    end
+
+    it "is started when the field is true" do
+      record.consents = true
+      expect(page).to be_started(record)
+    end
+
+    it "is started when the field is explicitly false" do
+      record.consents = false
+      expect(page).to be_started(record)
+    end
+
+    context "when mixed with a string field that is blank" do
+      before do
+        mixed_class = Class.new do
+          include ActiveModel::Model
+          include ActiveModel::Attributes
+
+          attribute :consents, :boolean
+          attribute :note, :string
+        end
+
+        stub_const("MixedBooleanModel", mixed_class)
+      end
+
+      let(:record) { MixedBooleanModel.new }
+      let(:page) { described_class.new("preferences", fields: [ :note, :consents ]) }
+
+      it "is started when only the boolean field is explicitly false" do
+        record.consents = false
+        expect(page).to be_started(record)
+      end
+    end
+  end
+
+  describe "#started? when a field is not defined on the record" do
+    let(:page) { described_class.new("ghost", fields: [ :nonexistent_field ]) }
+
+    it "does not raise" do
+      expect { page.started?(record) }.not_to raise_error
+    end
+
+    it "is not started" do
+      expect(page).not_to be_started(record)
+    end
+
+    context "when mixed with a defined field that has a value" do
+      let(:page) { described_class.new("mixed", fields: [ :nonexistent_field, :first_name ]) }
+
+      it "is started" do
+        record.first_name = "Mary"
+        expect(page).to be_started(record)
+      end
+    end
+  end
+
+  describe "#started? with a multi-parameter field" do
+    before do
+      test_model_class = Class.new(ActiveRecord::Base) do
+        self.table_name = "test_records"
+        include Strata::Attributes
+
+        strata_attribute :date_of_birth, :memorable_date
+      end
+
+      stub_const("DobModel", test_model_class)
+    end
+
+    let(:record) { DobModel.new }
+    let(:page) { described_class.new("dob", fields: [ date_of_birth: [ :month, :day, :year ] ]) }
+
+    it "is not started when the field has no value" do
+      expect(page).not_to be_started(record)
+    end
+
+    it "is started when the field has a value" do
+      record.date_of_birth = Date.new(1990, 5, 15)
+      expect(page).to be_started(record)
+    end
+  end
+
+  describe "#started? with a nested-attributes field" do
+    before do
+      child_class = Class.new(ActiveRecord::Base) do
+        self.table_name = "test_application_forms"
+      end
+      stub_const("NestedAttrsForm", child_class)
+
+      parent_class = Class.new(ActiveRecord::Base) do
+        self.table_name = "users"
+        has_many :forms, class_name: "NestedAttrsForm", foreign_key: :user_id
+        accepts_nested_attributes_for :forms
+      end
+      stub_const("NestedAttrsUser", parent_class)
+    end
+
+    let(:record) { NestedAttrsUser.new(first_name: "Alice", last_name: "Smith") }
+
+    context "with the hash form" do
+      let(:page) { described_class.new("forms", fields: [ forms_attributes: [ :test_string ] ]) }
+
+      it "is not started when no nested records have been assigned" do
+        expect(page).not_to be_started(record)
+      end
+
+      it "is started after nested attributes are assigned" do
+        record.forms_attributes = [ { test_string: "hello" } ]
+        expect(page).to be_started(record)
+      end
+    end
+
+    context "with the symbol form" do
+      let(:page) { described_class.new("forms", fields: [ :forms_attributes ]) }
+
+      it "is started after nested attributes are assigned" do
+        record.forms_attributes = [ { test_string: "hello" } ]
+        expect(page).to be_started(record)
+      end
+    end
+  end
+
+  describe "#started? with multiple fields" do
+    before do
+      multi_field_class = Class.new do
+        include ActiveModel::Model
+        include ActiveModel::Attributes
+
+        attribute :first_name, :string
+        attribute :last_name, :string
+      end
+
+      stub_const("MultiFieldModel", multi_field_class)
+    end
+
+    let(:record) { MultiFieldModel.new }
+    let(:page) { described_class.new("name", fields: [ :first_name, :last_name ]) }
+
+    it "is not started when no fields have values" do
+      expect(page).not_to be_started(record)
+    end
+
+    it "is started when any field has a value" do
+      record.last_name = "Smith"
+      expect(page).to be_started(record)
+    end
+  end
+
   describe "#attributes" do
     before do
       test_model_class = Class.new(ActiveRecord::Base) do
diff --git a/spec/models/strata/flows/task_spec.rb b/spec/models/strata/flows/task_spec.rb
index eafd2a70..10205381 100644
--- a/spec/models/strata/flows/task_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/models/strata/flows/task_spec.rb
@@ -9,55 +9,90 @@
       include ActiveModel::Attributes
 
       attribute :first_name, :string
+      attribute :last_name, :string
+      attribute :middle_name, :string
       validates :first_name, presence: true, on: :first_name
+      validates :last_name, presence: true, on: :last_name
     end
 
     stub_const("TestModel", test_model_class)
   end
 
-  let(:incomplete_page) { Strata::Flows::QuestionPage.new("first_name") }
-  let(:complete_page) { Strata::Flows::QuestionPage.new("last_name") }
+  let(:first_name_page) { Strata::Flows::QuestionPage.new("first_name") }
+  let(:last_name_page) { Strata::Flows::QuestionPage.new("last_name") }
   let(:record) { TestModel.new }
 
-  describe "an unstarted task" do
-    let(:task) { described_class.new("name", pages: [ incomplete_page ]) }
+  describe "#started?" do
+    let(:task) { described_class.new("name", pages: [ first_name_page, last_name_page ]) }
 
-    it "is not started or completed" do
+    it "is false when no pages have data" do
       expect(task).not_to be_started(record)
-      expect(task).not_to be_completed(record)
     end
 
-    it "returns the first page path" do
-      allow(incomplete_page).to receive(:edit_path).and_return("edit_path")
-      expect(task.path(record)).to eq("edit_path")
+    it "is true when the first page has data" do
+      record.first_name = "Mary"
+      expect(task).to be_started(record)
+    end
+
+    it "is true when only a later page has data" do
+      record.last_name = "Smith"
+      expect(task).to be_started(record)
+    end
+
+    it "is false when a page has only an untouched optional field" do
+      optional_page = Strata::Flows::QuestionPage.new("middle_name")
+      task = described_class.new("name", pages: [ optional_page ])
+
+      expect(optional_page).to be_completed(record)
+      expect(task).not_to be_started(record)
     end
   end
 
-  describe "a started task" do
-    let(:task) { described_class.new("name", pages: [ complete_page, incomplete_page ]) }
+  describe "#completed?" do
+    let(:task) { described_class.new("name", pages: [ first_name_page, last_name_page ]) }
 
-    it "is started but not completed" do
-      expect(task).to be_started(record)
+    it "is false when no pages have data" do
       expect(task).not_to be_completed(record)
     end
 
-    it "returns the first incomplete page path" do
-      allow(incomplete_page).to receive(:edit_path).and_return("edit_path")
-      expect(task.path(record)).to eq("edit_path")
+    it "is false when only some pages are complete" do
+      record.first_name = "Mary"
+      expect(task).not_to be_completed(record)
+    end
+
+    it "is true when all pages are complete" do
+      record.first_name = "Mary"
+      record.last_name = "Smith"
+      expect(task).to be_completed(record)
     end
   end
 
-  describe "a completed task" do
-    let(:task) { described_class.new("name", pages: [ complete_page ]) }
+  describe "#path" do
+    let(:task) { described_class.new("name", pages: [ first_name_page, last_name_page ]) }
 
-    it "is started and completed" do
-      expect(task).to be_started(record)
-      expect(task).to be_completed(record)
+    before do
+      allow(first_name_page).to receive(:edit_path).and_return("first_name_path")
+      allow(last_name_page).to receive(:edit_path).and_return("last_name_path")
+    end
+
+    it "returns the first page path when no pages have data" do
+      expect(task.path(record)).to eq("first_name_path")
+    end
+
+    it "returns the first incomplete page path when in progress" do
+      record.first_name = "Mary"
+      expect(task.path(record)).to eq("last_name_path")
+    end
+
+    it "returns the first incomplete page path when only a later page has data" do
+      record.last_name = "Smith"
+      expect(task.path(record)).to eq("first_name_path")
     end
 
-    it "returns the first page path" do
-      allow(complete_page).to receive(:edit_path).and_return("edit_path")
-      expect(task.path(record)).to eq("edit_path")
+    it "returns the first page path when all pages are complete" do
+      record.first_name = "Mary"
+      record.last_name = "Smith"
+      expect(task.path(record)).to eq("first_name_path")
     end
   end