What does a general warranty deed provide?

• A. It offers the most comprehensive guarantee of title.
• B. It provides a limited warranty against grantor's acts.
• C. It provides no covenants.
• D. It guarantees possession at closing.

Answer: (A)

A general warranty deed provides the broadest protection for the grantee by guaranteeing clear title against defects from any person in the chain of title, not just issues that occurred during the grantor’s ownership. It includes covenants that the grantor truly owns the property and has the right to convey it, that the title is free of encumbrances unless stated, that the grantor will defend the title against any claims, that the grantee’s enjoyment of the property will not be disturbed, and that the grantor will take steps to perfect the title if needed. Because these promises cover the entire history of the title, the grantee has the strongest assurance that any title problem will be remedied or compensated for, even if the defect originated before the grantor owned the property. Other deed types provide narrower protections or none at all—special warranty deeds limit protection to the grantor’s own actions, quitclaim deeds offer no covenants, and possession at closing is not guaranteed by title covenants.