Bethany Ward
Meet Bethany
With more than 20 years of legal experience, Bethany Ward is dedicated to helping individuals and families navigate some of life’s most significant legal transitions, including adoption, guardianship, and divorce. She takes the time to understand each client’s unique circumstances, goals, and concerns, providing personalized guidance and practical solutions tailored to their needs. Bethany is known for being responsive, thoughtful, and practical in her approach, and she works closely with clients to ensure they feel informed and confident throughout the legal process. Her extensive knowledge of adoption law allows her to provide knowledgeable guidance and thoughtful counsel, helping clients understand their options and make informed decisions about their future.
Attorney Specialties: Adoption, Guardianship, Divorce
Bethany began her legal career with a strong foundation in family law, becoming a licensed attorney in December 2003 after graduating from the University of San Diego School of Law, where she focused her studies on Family Law and Child Rights and Remedies. During law school, Bethany participated in the dependency clinic through USD’s Child Advocacy Institute, interned with the Family Law Facilitator’s Office, and volunteered with the San Diego Volunteer Lawyer Program’s domestic violence clinic. She also studied international and comparative law in Florence, Italy, and authored legal scholarship that was published in the Journal of Contemporary Legal Issues.
After nearly two decades practicing in all areas of family law, Bethany shifted her primary focus to adoptions in 2020, expanding her practice to include guardianships as well. She has extensive experience handling independent, step parent adoptions to confirm parentage, and adult adoptions, as well as contested terminations of parental rights and general, emergency, and temporary guardianships. Bethany joined Cage & Miles in 2022, where she continues to practice family law while focusing primarily on adoption and guardianship matters. She finds particular fulfillment in helping children find permanent, supportive homes and ensuring they receive the care and stability they need.
Bethany’s approach to representing clients is centered on thoughtful problem-solving and finding practical solutions to help achieve their goals. Representative matters include:
- Represented grandparents in a high-profile guardianship matter involving significant media attention.
- Represented adoption client in a termination of parental rights freeing child for adoption.
- Successfully guided a client through the guardianship process and secured the appointment of a guardian.
- Successfully secured consent of a previous unconsenting birth parent to allow for adoption to proceed.
- San Diego Business Journal Best of the Bar
After moving to California from Portland, Oregon, to attend college, Bethany quickly fell in love with the Golden State and is proud to call San Diego home. Outside of practice, Bethany enjoys spending time with her family, volunteering with her children’s activities, practicing pilates, and taking walks along the beach.
Speak with a Family Law Specialist
Schedule a confidential, no-obligation conversation with our team. We’ll discuss your unique situation and match you with the attorney best suited to help you move forward.
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