Types Of Deeds In Real Estate: A Quick Guide (2026)

Common Types of Deeds You Need to Know

What is a deed for? A deed transfers ownership of a property, but the details of the transfer and any protections the new property owner is afforded depend on the specific type of deed used. Take a closer look at some of the most common types of deeds involved in real estate.

Quitclaim Deed

A quitclaim deed is relatively straightforward, and it offers no title protection to the buyer. Here’s how it works:

• The property owner relinquishes their interest in the property to someone else.
• They make no guarantees about the validity of the property’s title.

This kind of transfer would be too risky for someone buying a home from a stranger. However, quitclaim deeds are useful for quick, low-risk transfers.

Most of the time, people use quitclaim deeds for transfers where no money changes hands and both parties trust one another. These are some common examples:

• Divorce settlements where one party gains full ownership of the home
• The transfer of property into a living trust
• The transfer of property between close family members

Quitclaim deeds are also sometimes used to fix minor issues with a home’s title. For instance, if a name is misspelled on the title, a quitclaim deed may be an easy and affordable way to correct it.

Warranty Deed

Of all types of deeds, a warranty deed, also called a “general warranty deed,” offers buyers the most protection. Warranty deeds guarantee the following:

• The seller holds a clear title to the property.
• They have the right to sell the property.
• There are no liens, ownership claims or other encumbrances on the title.

Warranty deeds are usually used in residential real estate sales. They guarantee the buyer of a property against any kind of title defect, regardless of whether the seller is aware of it or not.

Here’s an example of how a warranty deed protects you as the buyer of a property. Imagine you buy a home, and a few years later, you find out that there is a mechanic’s lien on the property because the seller never paid for renovations.

If you have a warranty deed in place, the seller is obligated to pay the lien to clear the title. If there’s no warranty, you may have to clear the lien yourself.

With a warranty deed in place, lenders and buyers can feel assured that they can avoid title disputes. If you’re selling a piece of real estate, you can generate a warranty deed online.

Special Warranty Deed

A special warranty deed provides the buyer less protection than a warranty deed but more than a quitclaim deed. A special warranty deed guarantees that there are no liens or title encumbrances that occurred when the seller owned the property. It doesn’t protect against pre-existing title problems, though.

Special warranty deeds are often used in foreclosures and commercial real estate transactions. You can generate your own special warranty deed easily.

Grant Deed

A grant deed is similar to a special warranty deed. However, it’s more limited in scope. A special warranty deed guarantees that no title defects occurred while they owned the property, but a grant deed only guarantees that the seller did not directly cause defects themselves.

If you have a grant deed and later discover a pre-existing defect caused by someone other than the seller, you may have to resolve it yourself, even if the problem arose when the seller owned the property.

Grant deeds are common in a handful of states, including California. It only takes minutes to generate a grant deed.

The Importance of Choosing the Right Deed

When you sell a piece of real estate, the deed is more than just a formality. The deed you choose impacts the buyer’s title protection and the seller’s legal liability. That’s why it’s important to have the right type of form and fill it out correctly.