Sec. 160.422.  CERTIFICATE OF SEARCH OF REGISTRY.  (a)  The vital statistics unit shall furnish a certificate of the results of a search of the registry on request by an individual, a court, or an agency listed in Section 160.412(b).
(b)  The certificate of the results of a search must be signed on behalf of the unit and state that:
(1)  a search has been made of the registry; and
(2)  a registration containing the information required to identify the registrant:
(A)  has been found and is attached to the certificate; or
(B)  has not been found.
(c)  A petitioner must file the certificate of the results of a search of the registry with the court before a proceeding for the adoption of or termination of parental rights regarding a child may be concluded.
(d)  A search of the registry is not required if a parent-child relationship exists between a man and the child, as provided by Section 160.201(b), and that man:
(1)  has been served with citation of the proceeding for termination of the parent-child relationship; or
(2)  has signed a relinquishment of parental rights with regard to the child.
Added by Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 821, Sec. 1.01, eff. June 14, 2001.
Amended by: 
Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1283 (H.B. 3997), Sec. 3, eff. September 1, 2007.
Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1 (S.B. 219), Sec. 1.074, eff. April 2, 2015.