property

special warranty deed

A special warranty deed is a deed in which the grantor warrants title only against defects or claims that arose during the grantor's own period of ownership, not before it. It gives the buyer more protection than a quitclaim deed but less than a general warranty deed. It is common in commercial sales and when fiduciaries, such as banks or estates, convey property.

Exam tip: Rank deeds by protection: general warranty (most, covers all prior owners), special warranty (only the grantor's ownership period), quitclaim (no warranties).
Example: A bank selling a foreclosed home gives a special warranty deed, promising only that it did nothing to cloud title while it owned the property.

1. A special warranty deed warrants title only against defects that:

Answer & explanation

Answer: D. Special (limited) warranty deeds protect only against problems created during the grantor's ownership; general warranty deeds cover the entire history.

Related terms & state variants

bargain and sale deed deed general warranty deed quitclaim deed

Sources

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Last verified: 2026-10-23