A special warranty deed is a deed transferring or conveying ownership of property in which the grantor (seller or transferor) promises (covenants) to defend the title only against other defects, liens, encumbrances, or claims made by the grantor or by someone claiming by or under the grantor.
In other words, a special warranty deed provides a limited warranty of title and does not warrant against claims or defects in the title that existed before the grantor took possession of the property.
In California, a special warranty deed is a type of deed where the grantor (the person selling or transferring the property) guarantees the title only against issues that arose during their period of ownership. This means the grantor warrants that they have not done anything to encumber the property and that there are no defects, liens, or encumbrances that have arisen as a result of their actions. However, the grantor does not provide a warranty against any issues that may have existed before they took possession of the property. This is in contrast to a general warranty deed, which provides a broader warranty of title, guaranteeing the property against all title defects, whether they arose before or during the grantor's ownership. Special warranty deeds are less protective of the buyer than general warranty deeds and are often used in commercial property transactions or in situations where the grantor is unable to provide a full warranty of title.