diff --git a/build.sbt b/build.sbt
index 9de7680a..37de9705 100644
--- a/build.sbt
+++ b/build.sbt
@@ -31,10 +31,10 @@ inThisBuild(
 addCommandAlias("fmt", "all scalafmtSbt scalafmt test:scalafmt")
 addCommandAlias("check", "all scalafmtSbtCheck scalafmtCheck test:scalafmtCheck")
 
-val zioVersion        = "2.0.13"
-val zioAwsVersion     = "5.20.42.1"
-val zioSchemaVersion  = "0.4.15"
-val zioPreludeVersion = "1.0.0-RC19"
+val zioVersion             = "2.0.13"
+val zioAwsVersion          = "5.20.42.1"
+val zioSchemaVersion       = "0.4.15"
+val zioPreludeVersion      = "1.0.0-RC19"
 val zioInteropCats3Version = "23.0.0.8"
 val catsEffect3Version     = "3.5.1"
 val fs2Version             = "3.9.2"
diff --git a/docs/codec-customization.md b/docs/codec-customization.md
index f411009a..ce86a9a8 100644
--- a/docs/codec-customization.md
+++ b/docs/codec-customization.md
@@ -37,13 +37,13 @@ Here an intermediate map is used to identify the member of `TraficLight` ie `Map
 Note that the `Null` is used as in this case we do not care about the value.
 
 # Customising encodings via annotations
-Encodings can be customised through the use of the following annotations `@discriminatorName`, `@enumOfCaseObjects` and `@fieldName`.
+Encodings can be customised through the use of the following annotations `@discriminatorName`, `@simpleEnum` and `@fieldName`.
 These annotations are useful when working with a legacy DynamoDB database.
 
 The `@discriminatorName` encodings does not introduce another map for the purposes of identification but rather adds another 
 discriminator field to the attribute Map.
 
-Concrete examples of using the `@discriminatorName`, `@enumOfCaseObjects` and `@field` annotations can be seen below.
+Concrete examples of using the `@discriminatorName`, `@simpleEnum` and `@field` annotations can be seen below.
 
 ## Sealed trait members that are case classes
 
@@ -77,7 +77,7 @@ The encoding for case class field names can also be customised via `@fieldName`
 ## Sealed trait members that are all case objects
 
 ```scala
-@enumOfCaseObjects
+@simpleEnum
 sealed trait TrafficLight
 case object GREEN extends TrafficLight 
 @caseName("red_traffic_light")
@@ -85,7 +85,7 @@ case object RED extends TrafficLight
 final case class Box(trafficLightColour: TrafficLight)
 ```
 
-We can get a more compact and intuitive encoding of trait members that are case objects by using the `@enumOfCaseObjects`
+We can get a more compact and intuitive encoding of trait members that are case objects by using the `@simpleEnum`
 annotation which encodes to just a value that is the member name. Encoding for an instance of `Box(GREEN)` would be:
 
 `Map(trafficLightColour -> String(GREEN))`
diff --git a/dynamodb/src/main/scala/zio/dynamodb/Annotations.scala b/dynamodb/src/main/scala/zio/dynamodb/Annotations.scala
index 710bdb00..dba4d3ff 100644
--- a/dynamodb/src/main/scala/zio/dynamodb/Annotations.scala
+++ b/dynamodb/src/main/scala/zio/dynamodb/Annotations.scala
@@ -4,7 +4,6 @@ import zio.Chunk
 import zio.schema.annotation.{ caseName, discriminatorName }
 
 object Annotations {
-  final case class enumOfCaseObjects() extends scala.annotation.Annotation
 
   def maybeCaseName(annotations: Chunk[Any]): Option[String]      =
     annotations.collect { case caseName(name) => name }.headOption
diff --git a/dynamodb/src/main/scala/zio/dynamodb/Codec.scala b/dynamodb/src/main/scala/zio/dynamodb/Codec.scala
index 9194db69..31c57d54 100644
--- a/dynamodb/src/main/scala/zio/dynamodb/Codec.scala
+++ b/dynamodb/src/main/scala/zio/dynamodb/Codec.scala
@@ -1,12 +1,12 @@
 package zio.dynamodb
 
-import zio.dynamodb.Annotations.{ enumOfCaseObjects, maybeCaseName, maybeDiscriminator }
+import zio.dynamodb.Annotations.{ maybeCaseName, maybeDiscriminator }
 import zio.dynamodb.DynamoDBError.DecodingError
 import zio.prelude.{ FlipOps, ForEachOps }
 import zio.schema.Schema.{ Optional, Primitive }
-import zio.schema.annotation.{ caseName, discriminatorName }
+import zio.schema.annotation.{ caseName, discriminatorName, simpleEnum }
 import zio.schema.{ FieldSet, Schema, StandardType }
-import zio.{ Chunk }
+import zio.Chunk
 
 import java.math.BigInteger
 import java.time._
@@ -269,7 +269,6 @@ private[dynamodb] object Codec {
     private def enumEncoder[Z](annotations: Chunk[Any], cases: Schema.Case[Z, _]*): Encoder[Z] =
       if (hasAnnotationAtClassLevel(annotations))
         enumWithAnnotationAtClassLevelEncoder(
-          isCaseObjectAnnotation(annotations),
           discriminatorWithDefault(annotations),
           cases: _*
         )
@@ -290,7 +289,6 @@ private[dynamodb] object Codec {
       }
 
     private def enumWithAnnotationAtClassLevelEncoder[Z](
-      hasEnumOfCaseObjectsAnnotation: Boolean,
       discriminator: String,
       cases: Schema.Case[Z, _]*
     ): Encoder[Z] =
@@ -303,22 +301,17 @@ private[dynamodb] object Codec {
           val id    = maybeCaseName(case_.annotations).getOrElse(case_.id)
           val av2   = AttributeValue.String(id)
           av match { // TODO: review all pattern matches inside of a lambda
-            case AttributeValue.Map(map)                                         =>
+            case AttributeValue.Map(map) =>
               AttributeValue.Map(
                 map + (AttributeValue.String(discriminator) -> av2)
               )
-            case AttributeValue.Null
-                if (hasEnumOfCaseObjectsAnnotation && allCaseObjects(cases)) || !hasEnumOfCaseObjectsAnnotation =>
+            case AttributeValue.Null     =>
               if (allCaseObjects(cases))
                 av2
               else
                 // these are case objects and are a special case - they need to wrapped in an AttributeValue.Map
                 AttributeValue.Map(Map(AttributeValue.String(discriminator) -> av2))
-            case _ if (hasEnumOfCaseObjectsAnnotation && !allCaseObjects(cases)) =>
-              throw new IllegalStateException(
-                s"Can not encode enum ${case_.id} - @enumOfCaseObjects annotation present when all instances are not case objects."
-              )
-            case av                                                              => throw new IllegalStateException(s"unexpected state $av")
+            case av                      => throw new IllegalStateException(s"unexpected state $av")
           }
         } else
           AttributeValue.Null
@@ -812,7 +805,6 @@ private[dynamodb] object Codec {
     private def enumDecoder[Z](annotations: Chunk[Any], cases: Schema.Case[Z, _]*): Decoder[Z] =
       if (hasAnnotationAtClassLevel(annotations))
         enumWithAnnotationAtClassLevelDecoder(
-          isCaseObjectAnnotation(annotations),
           discriminatorWithDefault(annotations),
           cases: _*
         )
@@ -841,7 +833,6 @@ private[dynamodb] object Codec {
         }
 
     private def enumWithAnnotationAtClassLevelDecoder[Z](
-      hasEnumOfCaseObjectsAnnotation: Boolean,
       discriminator: String,
       cases: Schema.Case[Z, _]*
     ): Decoder[Z] = { (av: AttributeValue) =>
@@ -858,10 +849,9 @@ private[dynamodb] object Codec {
         }
 
       av match {
-        case AttributeValue.String(id)
-            if (hasEnumOfCaseObjectsAnnotation && allCaseObjects(cases)) || !hasEnumOfCaseObjectsAnnotation =>
+        case AttributeValue.String(id) =>
           decode(id)
-        case AttributeValue.Map(map)                                       =>
+        case AttributeValue.Map(map)   =>
           map
             .get(AttributeValue.String(discriminator))
             .fold[Either[DynamoDBError, Z]](
@@ -872,13 +862,7 @@ private[dynamodb] object Codec {
               case av                              =>
                 Left(DecodingError(s"expected string type but found $av"))
             }
-        case _ if hasEnumOfCaseObjectsAnnotation && !allCaseObjects(cases) =>
-          Left(
-            DecodingError(
-              s"Can not decode enum $av - @enumOfCaseObjects annotation present when all instances are not case objects."
-            )
-          )
-        case _                                                             =>
+        case _                         =>
           Left(DecodingError(s"unexpected AttributeValue type $av"))
       }
     }
@@ -931,14 +915,8 @@ private[dynamodb] object Codec {
 
   private def hasAnnotationAtClassLevel(annotations: Chunk[Any]): Boolean =
     annotations.exists {
-      case discriminatorName(_) | enumOfCaseObjects() => true
-      case _                                          => false
-    }
-
-  private def isCaseObjectAnnotation(annotations: Chunk[Any]): Boolean =
-    annotations.exists {
-      case enumOfCaseObjects() => true
-      case _                   => false
+      case discriminatorName(_) | simpleEnum(_) => true
+      case _                                    => false
     }
 
 } // end Codec
diff --git a/dynamodb/src/test/scala/zio/dynamodb/ProjectionExpressionSpec.scala b/dynamodb/src/test/scala/zio/dynamodb/ProjectionExpressionSpec.scala
index 48c82466..b48f40ae 100644
--- a/dynamodb/src/test/scala/zio/dynamodb/ProjectionExpressionSpec.scala
+++ b/dynamodb/src/test/scala/zio/dynamodb/ProjectionExpressionSpec.scala
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 package zio.dynamodb
 
-import zio.dynamodb.Annotations.enumOfCaseObjects
 import zio.dynamodb.ProjectionExpression.{ $, mapElement, MapElement, Root }
+import zio.schema.annotation.simpleEnum
 import zio.schema.{ DeriveSchema, Schema }
 import zio.test.Assertion._
 import zio.test.{ assert, assertTrue, ZIOSpecDefault }
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ object ProjectionExpressionSpec extends ZIOSpecDefault {
   private val groups        = "groups"
   private val payment       = "payment"
 
-  @enumOfCaseObjects
+  @simpleEnum
   sealed trait Payment
   object Payment {
     case object CreditCard extends Payment
diff --git a/dynamodb/src/test/scala/zio/dynamodb/codec/ItemDecoderSpec.scala b/dynamodb/src/test/scala/zio/dynamodb/codec/ItemDecoderSpec.scala
index eb2e15b5..d4cd4ff8 100644
--- a/dynamodb/src/test/scala/zio/dynamodb/codec/ItemDecoderSpec.scala
+++ b/dynamodb/src/test/scala/zio/dynamodb/codec/ItemDecoderSpec.scala
@@ -284,35 +284,20 @@ object ItemDecoderSpec extends ZIOSpecDefault with CodecTestFixtures {
 
       assert(actual)(isRight(equalTo(PreBilled(id = 1, s = "foobar"))))
     },
-    test("decodes case object only enum with @enumOfCaseObjects annotation and without @caseName annotation") {
+    test("decodes case object only enum with @simpleEnum annotation and without @caseName annotation") {
       val item: Item = Item(Map("enum" -> AttributeValue.String("ONE")))
 
       val actual = DynamoDBQuery.fromItem[WithCaseObjectOnlyEnum](item)
 
       assert(actual)(isRight(equalTo(WithCaseObjectOnlyEnum(WithCaseObjectOnlyEnum.ONE))))
     },
-    test("decodes case object only enum with @enumOfCaseObjects annotation and @caseName annotation of '2'") {
+    test("decodes case object only enum with @simpleEnum annotation and @caseName annotation of '2'") {
       val item: Item = Item(Map("enum" -> AttributeValue.String("2")))
 
       val actual = DynamoDBQuery.fromItem[WithCaseObjectOnlyEnum](item)
 
       assert(actual)(isRight(equalTo(WithCaseObjectOnlyEnum(WithCaseObjectOnlyEnum.TWO))))
     },
-    test("fails decoding of enum with @enumOfCaseObjects annotation that does not have all case objects") {
-      val item: Item = Item(Map("enum" -> AttributeValue.String("ONE")))
-
-      val actual = DynamoDBQuery.fromItem[WithCaseObjectOnlyEnum2](item)
-
-      assert(actual)(
-        isLeft(
-          hasMessage(
-            equalTo(
-              "Can not decode enum String(ONE) - @enumOfCaseObjects annotation present when all instances are not case objects."
-            )
-          )
-        )
-      )
-    },
     test(
       "decodes enum and honours @caseName annotation at case class level when there is no @discriminatorName annotation"
     ) {
diff --git a/dynamodb/src/test/scala/zio/dynamodb/codec/ItemEncoderSpec.scala b/dynamodb/src/test/scala/zio/dynamodb/codec/ItemEncoderSpec.scala
index 66f14204..c5f2832b 100644
--- a/dynamodb/src/test/scala/zio/dynamodb/codec/ItemEncoderSpec.scala
+++ b/dynamodb/src/test/scala/zio/dynamodb/codec/ItemEncoderSpec.scala
@@ -8,7 +8,6 @@ import zio.test._
 import java.time.Instant
 import scala.collection.immutable.ListMap
 import zio.test.ZIOSpecDefault
-import scala.util.Try
 
 object ItemEncoderSpec extends ZIOSpecDefault with CodecTestFixtures {
   override def spec = suite("ItemEncoder Suite")(mainSuite)
@@ -219,35 +218,21 @@ object ItemEncoderSpec extends ZIOSpecDefault with CodecTestFixtures {
 
       assert(item)(equalTo(expectedItem))
     },
-    test("encodes case object only enum with @enumOfCaseObjects annotation") {
+    test("encodes case object only enum with @simpleEnum annotation") {
       val expectedItem: Item = Item(Map("enum" -> AttributeValue.String("ONE")))
 
       val item = DynamoDBQuery.toItem(WithCaseObjectOnlyEnum(WithCaseObjectOnlyEnum.ONE))
 
       assert(item)(equalTo(expectedItem))
     },
-    test("encodes case object only enum with @enumOfCaseObjects annotation and @caseName annotation of '2'") {
+    test("encodes case object only enum with @simpleEnum annotation and @caseName annotation of '2'") {
       val expectedItem: Item = Item(Map("enum" -> AttributeValue.String("2")))
 
       val item = DynamoDBQuery.toItem(WithCaseObjectOnlyEnum(WithCaseObjectOnlyEnum.TWO))
 
       assert(item)(equalTo(expectedItem))
     },
-    test("fails encoding of enum with @enumOfCaseObjects annotation that does not have all case objects") {
-
-      val item = Try(DynamoDBQuery.toItem(WithCaseObjectOnlyEnum2(WithCaseObjectOnlyEnum2.ONE)))
-
-      assert(item)(
-        isFailure(
-          hasMessage(
-            equalTo(
-              "Can not encode enum ONE - @enumOfCaseObjects annotation present when all instances are not case objects."
-            )
-          )
-        )
-      )
-    },
-    test("encodes enum and honours @caseName annotation when there is no @enumOfCaseObjects annotation") {
+    test("encodes enum and honours @caseName annotation when there is no @simpleEnum annotation") {
       val expectedItem: Item = Item("enum" -> Item(Map("1" -> AttributeValue.Null)))
 
       val item = DynamoDBQuery.toItem(WithEnumWithoutDiscriminator(WithEnumWithoutDiscriminator.ONE))
diff --git a/dynamodb/src/test/scala/zio/dynamodb/codec/models.scala b/dynamodb/src/test/scala/zio/dynamodb/codec/models.scala
index b7f0f8c7..4d7cc95b 100644
--- a/dynamodb/src/test/scala/zio/dynamodb/codec/models.scala
+++ b/dynamodb/src/test/scala/zio/dynamodb/codec/models.scala
@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
 package zio.dynamodb.codec
 
-import zio.dynamodb.Annotations.enumOfCaseObjects
-import zio.schema.annotation.{ caseName, discriminatorName, fieldName }
+import zio.schema.annotation.{ caseName, discriminatorName, fieldName, simpleEnum }
 import zio.schema.{ DeriveSchema, Schema }
 
 import java.time.Instant
@@ -58,18 +57,7 @@ object WithDiscriminatedEnum {
   implicit val schema: Schema[WithDiscriminatedEnum] = DeriveSchema.gen[WithDiscriminatedEnum]
 }
 
-@enumOfCaseObjects // should fail runtime validation as Three is not a case object
-sealed trait CaseObjectOnlyEnum2
-final case class WithCaseObjectOnlyEnum2(`enum`: CaseObjectOnlyEnum2)
-object WithCaseObjectOnlyEnum2 {
-  case object ONE                                                extends CaseObjectOnlyEnum2
-  @caseName("2")
-  case object TWO                                                extends CaseObjectOnlyEnum2
-  case class Three(@fieldName("funky_field_name") value: String) extends CaseObjectOnlyEnum2
-  implicit val schema: Schema[WithCaseObjectOnlyEnum2] = DeriveSchema.gen[WithCaseObjectOnlyEnum2]
-}
-
-@enumOfCaseObjects
+@simpleEnum
 sealed trait CaseObjectOnlyEnum
 final case class WithCaseObjectOnlyEnum(`enum`: CaseObjectOnlyEnum)
 object WithCaseObjectOnlyEnum {
diff --git a/examples/src/main/scala/zio/dynamodb/examples/TypeSafeRoundTripSerialisationExample.scala b/examples/src/main/scala/zio/dynamodb/examples/TypeSafeRoundTripSerialisationExample.scala
index ad10763d..32c6cc8e 100644
--- a/examples/src/main/scala/zio/dynamodb/examples/TypeSafeRoundTripSerialisationExample.scala
+++ b/examples/src/main/scala/zio/dynamodb/examples/TypeSafeRoundTripSerialisationExample.scala
@@ -2,7 +2,6 @@ package zio.dynamodb.examples
 
 import zio.Console.printLine
 import zio.ZIOAppDefault
-import zio.dynamodb.Annotations.enumOfCaseObjects
 import zio.dynamodb.examples.TypeSafeRoundTripSerialisationExample.Invoice.{
   Address,
   Billed,
@@ -12,7 +11,7 @@ import zio.dynamodb.examples.TypeSafeRoundTripSerialisationExample.Invoice.{
   Product
 }
 import zio.dynamodb.{ DynamoDBExecutor, DynamoDBQuery, PrimaryKey }
-import zio.schema.annotation.{ caseName, discriminatorName }
+import zio.schema.annotation.{ caseName, discriminatorName, simpleEnum }
 import zio.schema.{ DeriveSchema, Schema }
 
 import java.time.Instant
@@ -27,7 +26,7 @@ object TypeSafeRoundTripSerialisationExample extends ZIOAppDefault {
     def id: String
   }
   object Invoice       {
-    @enumOfCaseObjects
+    @simpleEnum
     sealed trait PaymentType
     object PaymentType {
       @caseName("debit")
diff --git a/examples/src/main/scala/zio/dynamodb/examples/model/Student.scala b/examples/src/main/scala/zio/dynamodb/examples/model/Student.scala
index b8502214..82914101 100644
--- a/examples/src/main/scala/zio/dynamodb/examples/model/Student.scala
+++ b/examples/src/main/scala/zio/dynamodb/examples/model/Student.scala
@@ -1,14 +1,14 @@
 package zio.dynamodb.examples.model
 
-import zio.dynamodb.Annotations.enumOfCaseObjects
 import zio.dynamodb.ProjectionExpression
 import zio.schema.DeriveSchema
 
 import java.time.Instant
 import zio.schema.Schema
 import zio.dynamodb.KeyConditionExpr
+import zio.schema.annotation.simpleEnum
 
-@enumOfCaseObjects
+@simpleEnum
 sealed trait Payment
 
 object Payment {