SQL Server: how to know if any row is referencing the row to delete

Question

You cannot delete a row if any row is referencing the row to delete via a FK.

Is it possible to know if any row is referencing the row to delete before executing a DELETE statement?

Answer 1

This script will show all the tables that have rows that reference the row you are trying to delete:

declare @RowId int = 1
declare @TableName sysname = 'ParentTable'

declare @Command varchar(max) 

select @Command = isnull(@Command + ' union all ', '') + 'select ''' + object_name(parent_object_id) + 
    ''' where exists(select * from ' + object_name(parent_object_id) + ' where ' + col.name+ ' = ' + cast(@RowId as varchar) + ')' 
from sys.foreign_key_columns fkc
    join sys.columns col on
        fkc.parent_object_id = col.object_id and fkc.parent_column_id = col.column_id
where object_name(referenced_object_id) = @TableName

execute (@Command)

Assumption that foreign key is not composite.