AI-assisted research summary: When a parent has not been personally served, the department must try to locate the parent or a relative and, if needed, ask for use of the parental locator service; it must also show the court what it did.
Sec. 161.107. MISSING PARENT OR RELATIVE. (a) In this section: (1) "Parent" means a parent, as defined by Section 160.102, whose parent-child relationship with a child has not been terminated. The term does not include a man who does not have a parent-child relationship established under Chapter 160. (2) "Relative" means a parent, grandparent, or adult sibling or child. (b) If a parent of the child has not been personally served in a suit in which the Department of Family and Protective Services seeks termination, the department must make a diligent effort to locate that parent. (c) If a parent has not been personally served and cannot be located, the department shall make a diligent effort to locate a relative of the missing parent to give the relative an opportunity to request appointment as the child's managing conservator. (d) If the department is not able to locate a missing parent or a relative of that parent and sufficient information is available concerning the physical whereabouts of the parent or relative, the department shall request the state agency designated to administer a statewide plan for child support to use the parental locator service established under 42 U.S.C. Section 653 to determine the location of the missing parent or relative. (e) The department shall be required to provide evidence to the court to show what actions were taken by the department in making a diligent effort to locate the missing parent and relative of the missing parent. Added by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 20, Sec. 1, eff. April 20, 1995. Amended by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 751, Sec. 71, eff. Sept. 1, 1995. Amended by: Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1283 (H.B. 3997), Sec. 8, eff. September 1, 2007. Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1283 (H.B. 3997), Sec. 9, eff. September 1, 2007.