Late To
Your Own Funeral.
How to Leave a Legacy and Not a Logjam
Incredible stories of all the wrong ways to leave your life’s problems behind for others to sort out.
by Rachel Balog Donnelly

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Why this book matters.
This book is about death and dying, surviving the loss of a loved one, estate administration gone wrong, and coming out from the other side. This book is meant to not only help you get organized and plan ahead, but also to help whatever poor soul will be your executor.
This isn’t just any book; it’s a survival guide written from my perspective as an after loss professional and someone who’s been in the trenches of death’s bureaucracy. I’ve written this book to be a roadmap and step-by-step guide out of estate settlement purgatory.
“Rachel’s irreverent humor and no-nonsense guidance make legacy planning not just manageable but oddly enjoyable.”
"This book is an excellent starting point for anyone looking to minimize future chaos during a time of grief for their loved ones. Unlike traditional books on estate planning, Donnelly focuses on the human element by weaving in personal anecdotes and reflections—encouraging readers to be mindful of the mess they could leave behind."
"As an estate planning professional for twenty years, I sat down to read a chapter or two of Late to Your Own Funeral and could not help finishing the book in one sitting."
"In Late To Your Own Funeral, Rachel Donnelly masterfully combines sound estate planning advice with humor and real-life stories of estate planning (or the lack thereof). This book is really a must-read for everyone—unless you can guarantee you won’t die!”
“Full of the wit and wisdom that is Rachel Donnelly. Before or after the death of a loved one, she helps us sort through all the necessary stuff with her smarts, experience, efficiency, compassion, and a sense of humor.”
“Rachel approaches this difficult topic with humor, honesty, and a wealth of practical strategies that transform estate planning from a dreaded chore into an act of love. Your legacy is not just what you leave—it’s how you leave it. This book will help you ensure that the information that matters most is preserved, protected, and passed down with intention."
"This is the book we all need, but don't necessarily want to think about. Late to Your Own Funeral is equal parts hilarious, heartfelt, and brutally honest... A guide to facing life’s biggest certainty with clarity, organization, and even a little laughter."
"As a financial advisor, I know how complex and tedious the administrative work can be after losing a loved one. Rachel has the gift of making the uncomfortable funny. You will be laughing out loud while simultaneously taking notes. This is one of those nonfiction books that is easy to ready because she has weaved so many stories and personal experiences into the information. Almost everyone in unprepared for the work involved in dealing with a estate. This book is a must read."
"What I love about Rachel is she gets right to the point and doesn't waste anyone's time and this book is no exception. This is the resource for figuring out everything you need to know quickly when you have no time to waste!"
"Late to Your Own Funeral is a wake-up call for anyone who believes that avoiding the conversation will somehow delay the inevitable. Rachel Donnelly masterfully turns estate planning from a daunting task into an act of love, making planning for the inevitable less about paperwork and more about purpose—ensuring that our final chapter reflects the life we truly lived."

Meet Rachel,
Hello and welcome. Glad you are here.
My experience with losing my parents and other family members at a young age felt like a cosmic joke—one I definitely didn’t sign up for. Suddenly, I was drowning in grief and chaos, trying to figure out how to navigate a world where everyone else seemed blissfully unaware of the absurdity of the business of loss.
After stumbling through the aftermath and feeling overwhelmed, I decided to channel all that confusion into something constructive. So, I started a business aimed at helping people tackle the ridiculous challenges that arise when someone dies – turning heartache into a helping hand. I named it AfterLight.
After years of navigating these heartfelt and sometimes downright bizarre stories with my clients, I felt compelled to write a book. I wanted to share these real-life tales of heartbreak, frustration, and moments that were so strange they could only be fiction.
With this book, I’m hoping to shake things up a bit and encourage folks to tackle the uncomfortable topic of death with a proactive mindset. Let’s stop tiptoeing around it and start having those tough conversations! Through these stories, I aim to inspire a new culture of openness about loss and legacy, transforming grief into a shared experience that connects us all.
I am here to help.