What does the special warranty covenant state about ownership?

The special warranty covenant indicates that the seller (grantor) guarantees that they will defend the title against claims or defects that arose only during their ownership of the property. This means that the seller is responsible for any issues that were created while they owned the property but does not offer protection against claims or issues stemming from prior owners.

This limited scope of defense is significant for both buyers and sellers; it provides a level of assurance that the title is clear for the period of the seller's ownership, but it does not provide comprehensive protection against all potential title issues. Therefore, the focus here is on the seller's actions and guarantees relating specifically to their period of ownership, distinguishing the special warranty deed from other types of deeds that may offer broader protections or indefeasible ownership claims.