Legal Memorandum: Standard of Review for a neglect or abuse finding

Issue: Under Illinois law, what is the standard of review applied to a trial court’s order finding neglect or abuse?

On review, a trial court’s finding of neglect or abuse will not be reversed unless it is against the manifest weight of the evidence. Arthur H., 212 Ill.2d at 464. A trial court’s finding is against the manifest weight of the evidence only if the opposite conclusion is clearly evident. Id.