Judge Bethany J. Alvord was born in Boston, Massachusetts. She attended Colgate University, graduating cum laude in 1979, with a B.A. in Russian Studies and International Relations. Judge Alvord then attended the University of Connecticut School of Law, where she received her Juris Doctor, with honors, in corporate law in 1982.

Prior to becoming a judge, Judge Alvord served on the Town of Suffield Zoning Board of Appeals from 1988 to 1999. She also served on the Town of Suffield Retirement Commission from 1997 to 1998.

From 1982 to 1992, Judge Alvord was employed by Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company as a Second Vice President and Associate General Counsel in its Law Department. From 1993 to 1998, Judge Alvord was employed by Aetna, Inc. as the Assistant Vice President, Counsel, for the Retirement Services division.

In January of 1999, Judge Alvord was sworn in as a Family Support Magistrate for the State of Connecticut. She served as a Family Support Magistrate until 2002, when she became a Judge of the Superior Court of the State of Connecticut. During her time on the Superior Court bench, Judge Alvord served as the Presiding Judge of the Family Division in New Haven. She was also assigned to hear matters in Rockville, Tolland, Waterbury and Hartford.

In April of 2009, Governor M. Jodi Rell appointed Judge Alvord to the Appellate Court.