Hugo P. v. George P.

How later courts describe this case

• "As the trier of fact, [the judge] was in the best position to evaluate all the evidence, contradictory at times"
• “The authority to order an alternate plan is implicit in the authority to approve or disapprove a plan in accordance with the evidence presented”
• plan proposed by parent not entitled to any artificial weight in determining best interests of child
• judge has obligation to consider DCF's proposed plan but must make determination based on child's best interests
• in considering widest range of permissible evidence in child custody cases, court should not give presumptive consideration to one factor or another when Legislature has not recognized a presumption as such
• trial judge is in best position to evaluate evidence