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 Ohio, a special warranty deed is a type of deed where the grantor (the person selling or transferring the property) guarantees the title only against defects that may have arisen during their period of ownership. This means the grantor is not responsible for any title issues that existed before they took possession of the property. The special warranty deed includes a promise to defend the title against claims made by the grantor or anyone claiming through the grantor, but it does not protect the grantee (the buyer or transferee) against any claims that predate the grantor's ownership. This type of deed provides less protection than a general warranty deed, which guarantees the title against all past claims, but it offers more protection than a quitclaim deed, which makes no guarantees about the title at all. When using a special warranty deed in Ohio, it is important for the grantee to conduct a thorough title search and possibly obtain title insurance to protect against potential undisclosed title issues.