(a) The provisions of sections
45a-603 to
45a-622, inclusive, shall be liberally construed in the best interests of any minor child affected by them, provided the requirements of such sections are otherwise satisfied.
(b) All proceedings held under said sections shall, in the best interests of the minor child, be held without unreasonable delay.
(P.A. 79-460, S. 2; P.A. 85-244, S. 1, 3.)
History: P.A. 85-244 amended Subsec. (a) by adding “provided the requirements of such sections are otherwise satisfied”; Sec. 45-42b transferred to Sec. 45a-605 in 1991.
Annotations to former section 45-42b:
Statute is unambiguous declaration of legislative intent and an acknowledgment of standard to be used on issue of custody even where surviving biological parent claims entitlement to custody of minor child under Sec. 45-43. 193 C. 393.
Cited. 3 CA 194.
Annotations to present section:
Cited. 231 C. 1.
Cited. 24 CA 402. Trial court record supports best interests of the child standard. 47 CA 105. Taken together, under Subsec. (a) and Secs. 45a-604(5) and 45a-606, authority to make major decisions affecting child's welfare intended to effectuate child's best interest includes authority to make legal decisions on behalf of the minor and would include, in this case, authority to assert child's legal rights in a court of law. 76 CA 693.
Cited. 44 CS 169.
Notes of Decisions
Cited in
11
cases (
4 in the last 5 years), 1991–2025 · leading case:
Favrow v. Vargas, 647 A.2d 731 (Conn. 1994).
Favrow v. Vargas, 647 A.2d 731 (Conn. 1994).
· cites it 4× “See General Statutes § 45a-605 (a). 12 If a person, by accepting the obligations of the guardian of a minor child, were also held to have the legal responsibility to support the child, the law would discourage the acceptance of such an appointment.”
In re Michael A., 703 A.2d 1146 (Conn. App. Ct. 1997).
· cites it 7× “1 *107 The respondent claims that the trial court (1) improperly failed to address the previous order of temporary custody in its ruling regarding guardianship and (2) incorrectly applied the best interests of the child standard of General Statutes § 45a-605 2 in reaching its…”
In Re Henrry P. B.-P., 173 A.3d 928 (Conn. 2017).
· cites it 2× “§ 1101 (a) (27) (J), the federal juvenile status statute, in § 45a-608n (b) calls to mind the maxim that, "[i]n cases in which more than one [statutory provision] is involved, we presume that the legislature intended [those provisions] to be read together to create a harmonious…”
In re Tayquon H., 821 A.2d 796 (Conn. App. Ct. 2003).
· cites it 2× “” General Statutes § 45a-605 (a) provides guidance on the interpretation of those expansive duties: “The provisions of [§ 45a-604 inclusive].”
Bristol v. Brundage, 589 A.2d 1 (Conn. App. Ct. 1991).
· cites it 2× “Unless the presumption is challenged by the introduction of rebuttal evidence, § 45a-596 (a) is not one of the sections of the chapter to be construed in terms of the best interests of the minor child.”
In re Helen B., 719 A.2d 907 (Conn. App. Ct. 1998).
· cites it 3× “” General Statutes § 45a-605 (a). “The award of the custody of a minor child is a matter within the sound discretion of the trial court.”
Garrett's Appeal From Prob., 677 A.2d 1000 (Conn. Super. Ct. 1994).
· cites it 2× “General Statutes § 45a-605 (a) provides: “The provisions of sections 45a-603 to 45a-622, inclusive, shall be liberally construed in the best interests of any minor child affected by them, provided the requirements of such sections are otherwise satisfied.”
In re Ivory W., 342 Conn. 692 (Conn. 2022).
· cites it 2× “24 See General Statutes § 45a-605, which provides: ‘‘(a) The provisions of sections 45a-603 to 45a-622, inclusive [governing, among other things, the appointment of a temporary guardian for the child when an application for termination of parental rights has been made], shall be…”
In re C. Y. (Conn. App. Ct. 2025).
· cites it 4× “General Statutes § 45a-605 (a) provides in relevant part that ‘‘[t]he provisions of sections 45a-603 to 45a- 622, inclusive, shall be liberally construed in the best interests of any minor child affected by them .”
In re Zakai F. (Conn. 2021).
· cites it 2× “Given that our legislature has expressed its intention that the best interests of the child be paramount; see General Statutes § 45a-605 (a) (‘‘[t]he provisions of sections 45a-603 to 45a-622, inclusive, shall be liberally construed in the best interests of any minor child…”
In re Ivory W. (Conn. 2022).
· cites it 2× “24 See General Statutes § 45a-605, which provides: ‘‘(a) The provisions of sections 45a-603 to 45a-622, inclusive [governing, among other things, the appointment of a temporary guardian for the child when an application for termination of parental rights has been made], shall be…”
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