If a custodial sentence is coming, the four weeks before you walk into reception are some of the most important you will ever spend. Sort the right things now and your time inside is bearable; leave it to chance and your family will spend months trying to fix problems you could have closed off in an afternoon. This 30-day checklist is built from years of watching what works — and what falls apart — for people preparing for prison in the UK in 2026. Read it through once, then come back and tick things off week by week.
Why the 30 Days Before Sentencing Matter
Most people focus on the sentence length itself and ignore the practical run-up. That is a mistake. Once you are through the gate at HMP Wandsworth, HMP Belmarsh or wherever you are remanded to, your access to banking apps, solicitors, landlords and your own paperwork drops to almost nothing. Prison phones are expensive, in-cell tablets are not in every jail, and a five-minute job on the outside becomes a six-week saga inside.
The 30-day window is also when your mental state needs work. People who walk in having had honest conversations with family and a clear plan settle within a fortnight. People who avoid the topic until the morning of court tend to spend their first month in shock — which is exactly when bullies and lenders on the wing look for new arrivals.
Week 4 (Days 30–22): The Big Conversations
Start with the people, not the paperwork. The first week of your run-up is for telling everyone who needs to know, in the order they need to hear it.
Tell your immediate family first
Partner, children, parents. Face to face, not by text. Be honest about the likely sentence range your solicitor has given you and the realistic release date — including SDS40 early release if applicable. Children old enough to ask questions deserve the truth in age-appropriate language; we cover that in detail in our guide on telling your children you're going to prison.
Tell your employer
You are not legally obliged to tell an employer about a charge until you are convicted, but once a custodial sentence is on the cards you need to give notice or arrange unpaid leave. A short, factual letter works better than a long emotional one. See our employer guide for the wording.
Choose your "outside person"
This is the single most important decision you will make. One trusted adult — usually a partner, parent or sibling — needs full power to act for you: pay your bills, talk to your landlord, send you money, manage your phone. Without one nominated person, things drift.
Week 3 (Days 21–15): Money and Bills
This is the week the bank, the council and the DWP get sorted.
For the full breakdown, read sorting your finances before prison.
> **Insider tip:** Open a Post Office card account or a basic bank account in your name *before* you go in. When you are released, you will need an account to receive your discharge grant and any benefits — and opening one with no fixed address from a probation hostel is a nightmare.
Week 2 (Days 14–8): Property, Pets and Power of Attorney
By now the emotional stuff is spoken about, the money is moving. This week is the legal and physical admin.
Power of attorney
A Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) for property and financial affairs lets your nominated person sign documents, sell a car, deal with HMRC. It costs £82 to register with the Office of the Public Guardian and takes about 8 weeks — so you may need an ordinary power of attorney as a stopgap. A solicitor can draft one in a single appointment.
Pets
Animals are forgotten until the last minute. Rehoming through the Cinnamon Trust (specialists in helping prisoners and the elderly with pet care) takes time. Friends and family who say "yes" in week three sometimes back out in week one — get a written commitment.
Car and vehicle
SORN it with the DVLA if it is staying off road. If a partner is keeping it, transfer the V5 logbook so they are the registered keeper. Insurance lapses fast.
Property in storage
Anything you cannot leave in the family home needs to go into paid storage or to a relative. Photograph everything for an inventory — disputes about missing belongings are common.
Week 1 (Days 7–1): The Final Run
The last week is for the small things that will make day one inside survivable.
> **Insider tip:** Wear simple, comfortable clothes to court — tracksuit bottoms, plain T-shirt, slip-on trainers. Reception will take everything off you and store it. Belts, ties and laces come off anyway. Don't wear anything you mind being bagged for months.
What to Bring to Court on Sentencing Day
Bring almost nothing. Your outside person should hold your wallet, phone and house keys. You take ID, your solicitor's contact details, and the medication list. Anything more gets confiscated and you may not see it again until release. Read our full guide on what to wear to court on sentencing day for more.
After the Gate Closes: What Your Outside Person Does
Hand them this checklist before you go in:
Common Mistakes to Avoid
FAQ
How early should I start preparing for a prison sentence?
The minute your solicitor says custody is a realistic outcome — usually after the pre-sentence report is ordered. Thirty days is the comfortable minimum; sixty days is better.
Can I take my own clothes into prison?
On remand, yes — most clothes are allowed (no logos, no white items in some jails). After conviction, most prisons issue uniform on the lower IEP levels and allow personal clothing on Enhanced. Check the specific establishment.
What if I get a longer sentence than expected?
Your outside person should already have a long-term plan in place. The 30-day checklist works whether you get 12 months or 12 years — the categories (money, family, property, pets) are identical, only the scale changes.
Can my partner access my bank account while I'm inside?
Only with a joint account or a registered power of attorney. A bare verbal arrangement is not enough — banks freeze suspicious activity fast.
Will I get my job back when I'm released?
Some employers will hold a job open, especially for sentences under 12 months and with no breach of trust offences. Get any agreement in writing before you go in.
*Last updated: April 2026.*