By Matthew A. Quick A new law, which took effect November 23, 2011, and is codified at 735 ILCS 5/8-2001.5, creates a procedure and a form to allow certain family members access to the medical records of a family member who has passed without being forced to initiate a court proceeding. The new law allows a surviving spouse to make a request for the records or, if there is no surviving spouse, then an adult child, a parent, or an adult sibling may make the request.