What type of deed is a special warranty deed?

A special warranty deed is a type of deed in which the grantor only guarantees that they hold title to the property and that there are no encumbrances or claims against the title that occurred during the time they owned the property. This means that the warranty is limited to the period of the grantor's ownership, unlike a general warranty deed, which offers a broader guarantee covering the entire history of the property.

This specific provision makes the special warranty deed particularly useful in transactions where the grantor may not want to assume responsibility for issues that existed before they owned the property. Consequently, the buyer must conduct due diligence regarding any potential problems that may have arisen prior to the grantor's ownership.

The other options do not accurately describe the function of a special warranty deed. Total ownership pertains to other types of deeds, partial interest refers to deeds that don't convey full rights, and the need for a commercial property deed does not specifically pertain to the concept of a special warranty deed itself.