In Matter of Adoption of RPR

This is an appeal from an order of the trial court awarding custody of R.P.R., an infant, to the respondent Patricia Riordan, the biological mother. Ronald and Margaret Brandt, the adoptive parents of R.P.R., seek to reverse the trial court’s order due to abuse of discretion. The trial court based its decision, in part, upon a presumption in favor of the natural parent and, in part, upon a finding that there was sufficient evidence adduced by Ms. Riordan to show that the best interests of the child would be furthered by giving the child back to her. Because we find that the trial court erred…