What does a special warranty deed protect against?

A special warranty deed offers protection specifically against defects in the title of the property that may have arisen during the time the grantor held ownership. This means that if any title issues or claims surface that occurred while the grantor owned the property, the grantor would be responsible for resolving those defects. The special warranty deed limits the grantor's liability to this timeframe, providing a level of assurance to the buyer that they will be protected from problems that originated during the grantor's period of ownership.

This form of deed does not provide comprehensive coverage for all potential title defects, especially those that predate the grantor's ownership, nor does it address noncompliance with zoning laws. Therefore, it is vital to understand that the protection is specifically linked to the actions or existing issues that happened while the grantor owned the property. This limited scope is what distinguishes a special warranty deed from a general warranty deed, the latter offering broader protections beyond just the grantor's timeframe.