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 South Carolina, 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 that the grantor is not responsible for any title issues that existed before they took possession of the property. The special warranty deed is less protective for the buyer than a general warranty deed, which provides a full warranty of clear title against all claims, but it offers more protection than a quitclaim deed, which makes no guarantees about the title at all. The special warranty deed is often used in commercial property transactions and in situations where the grantor wants to limit their liability for potential title issues.