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Pennsylvania Special Warranty Deed

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PENNSYLVANIA SPECIAL WARRANTY DEED
[Three Individuals to Two Individuals]

© 2016 - U.S. Legal Forms, Inc.

Control Number: PA-020-78

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Prepared by:

Return to:

Parcel #

SPECIAL WARRANTY DEED

[Three Individuals to Two Individuals]

KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS THAT:

FOR VALUABLE CONSIDERATION OF TEN DOLLARS ($10.00), and other good and valuable consideration, cash in hand paid, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, , and , Individuals, hereinafter referred to as “Grantors”, do hereby grant, bargain, sell, convey, and warrant unto and , as joint tenants with the right of survivorship tenants in common, hereinafter “Grantees”, the following lands and property, together with all improvements located thereon, lying in the County of , State of Pennsylvania, to-wit:

See Legal Description Attached as Exhibit A incorporated by reference as though set forth in full

Legal Description:

Prior instrument reference: Book , Page , Document No. , of the Recorder of County, Pennsylvania.

Address of property:

SUBJECT to all easements, rights-of-way, protective covenants and mineral reservations of record, if any.

TO HAVE AND TO HOLD same unto Grantees, and unto Grantee’s successors and assigns forever, with all appurtenances thereunto belonging.

GRANTORS do for Grantors and Grantors’ heirs, personal representatives, executors and assigns forever hereby covenant with GRANTEE that Grantors are lawfully seized in fee simple of said premises; that the premises are free from all encumbrances, unless otherwise noted above; that Grantors have a good right to sell and convey the same as aforesaid; AND SAID Grantors will only warrant and forever defend the right and title to the above described property unto the said Grantee against the claims of those persons claiming by, through or under Grantors, but not otherwise.

WITNESS Grantors hands this the day of , 20.

(1st Grantor’s Signature)

Type or Print Name

(2nd Grantor’s Signature)

Type or Print Name

(3rd Grantor’s Signature)

Type or Print Name

State of , County of

On this, the day of , 20, before me , the undersigned officer, personally appeared of the State (County or City as the case may be) of known to me (or satisfactorily proven) to be the person described in the foregoing instrument, and acknowledged that he or she executed the same in the capacity therein stated and for the purposes therein contained.

In witness whereof, I hereunto set my hand and official seal.

Title of Officer:

Type or Print Name

My commission expires:

CERTIFICATION OF GRANTEE’S ADDRESS:

Grantee Name and Address:

Grantee Name and Address:

I hereby certify under penalty of perjury that the above information is true and accurate.

Date:

Signature

Rank/Position

EXHIBIT A

Enter text✕

What the Pennsylvania Special Warranty Deed Is and when it’s used

A Pennsylvania Special Warranty Deed is a legal instrument transferring real property in which the grantor warrants only against title defects that arose during the grantor’s period of ownership. It allocates limited liability compared with a general warranty deed: the grantor promises to defend title only against claims traceable to the grantor’s actions, not defects predating the grantor. The deed must contain a proper legal description, be executed by the grantor, acknowledged by a notary, and recorded in the county where the property lies to be fully effective against subsequent purchasers and to preserve recording priority.

Why parties choose a Special Warranty Deed in Pennsylvania

A Special Warranty Deed limits seller liability to the period they owned the property, reducing post-closing exposure, while still providing buyer protections for defects arising during seller ownership. It is commonly used in commercial transfers, some residential closings, and sales involving limited-title risk or where sellers will not accept broader historical warranty obligations.

Why parties choose a Special Warranty Deed in Pennsylvania

Which parties commonly prepare or accept this deed

Typical roles involved before and after delivery of a Special Warranty Deed.

  • Sellers and listing brokers who want to limit warranty exposure to their ownership period.
  • Buyers and title insurers accepting a narrower warranty in exchange for price or other contract terms.
  • Settlement agents and real estate attorneys preparing deed language and coordinating recording.

Use this deed where the allocation of historical title risk is negotiated and documented in the purchase agreement.

Step-by-step: preparing and executing the deed

Follow these core steps to complete a Pennsylvania Special Warranty Deed correctly and reduce recording or title issues.

  • 01
    Prepare legal description: Copy the parcel’s full metes-and-bounds or lot/plan description exactly.
  • 02
    Identify parties: Enter grantor and grantee names as they appear on ID or title chain.
  • 03
    Specify consideration: State the dollar amount or describe non‑monetary consideration clearly.
  • 04
    Notarize and record: Have grantor acknowledge before a notary, then file in county recorder's office.

Core elements every professional Pennsylvania Special Warranty Deed contains

A complete deed will include the following structural items to ensure transfer is effective and enforceable.

Limited Covenant

The grantor warrants title only against defects arising during the grantor’s ownership, not prior defects.

Granting Clause

Clear language of conveyance describing the interest transferred (fee simple, easement, etc.).

Precise Description

Full metes-and-bounds or lot-and-block description that uniquely identifies the parcel for recording.

Consideration Clause

Statement of consideration establishes the bargaining basis and may affect taxation and recording.

Acknowledgment

Notary acknowledgment of grantor signature required by Pennsylvania recording practice.

Delivery and Acceptance

Language or facts showing grantor delivered and grantee accepted the deed to effect transfer.

Required data elements at a glance

Grantor identity: Full legal name
Grantee identity: Full legal name
Legal description: Parcel metes/bounds or lot-block
Consideration: Dollar amount or description
Notary acknowledgement: Notary signature and seal
Recording county: County where property is located

How the deed moves from preparation to public record

Deed handling typically follows a simple preparation, authentication, and filing workflow coordinated by closing parties.

  • Draft deed: Prepare with accurate names and legal description
  • Sign and acknowledge: Grantor signs before a notary as required
  • Record deed: File original with county recorder and pay fees
  • Deliver copy: Provide recorded copy to grantee and title insurer

Common digital workflow settings for deed preparation

When using an electronic workflow, configure fields and authentication to mirror paper requirements and support recording.

Field Configuration
Grantor Name Field Required text field, exact-match validation
Legal Description Field Multi-line text, copy/paste allowed
Signature Field Signer must acknowledge; attach notary block
Notary Attachment Store scanned acknowledgment for recorder

Digital signing and file-format considerations

Electronic workflows must preserve original document text, support notarization evidence, and match county recording requirements.

  • File formats: PDF and DOCX widely accepted
  • Integrations: Supports common systems like Salesforce and NetSuite
  • Audit trail: Retain IP, timestamp, and signer details

Confirm county recorder acceptance of electronically signed or scanned deeds before relying on digital-only workflows.

Key risks and consequences of errors

Recording Priority: Misrecording may cause loss of priority
Title Insurance: Errors can trigger coverage disputes
Tax Assessment: Improper reporting affects property tax records
Legal Challenge: Incorrect deeds invite quiet-title lawsuits
Clerical Rejection: Missing acknowledgments lead to recorder rejections
Identity Mismatch: Name errors can void conveyance

Common preparation mistakes to avoid

  • Using an inaccurate legal description copied from an informal source instead of the deed or title commitment.
  • Failing to have the grantor’s signature notarized or using an incomplete notary acknowledgment block.
  • Listing the grantor or grantee using an informal or abbreviated name that doesn't match title records.
  • Delaying recording after closing, which can expose the transferee to intervening liens or claims.

Practical tips for accurate and efficient completion

Adopt consistent checks to reduce errors and speed recording.

Verify names
Cross-check grantor/grantee names against government ID and title search prior to signing.
Use recorded text
Copy the legal description from the most recent recorded deed or title commitment.
Confirm county rules
Check recorder office requirements for margins, cover sheets, and fee amounts.
Keep originals
File the original recorded deed safely and provide certified copies as needed.

eSignature vendor pricing and feature snapshot for deed workflows

Basic pricing and key capabilities vary; signNow is shown first for comparison. Verify vendor plans for enterprise features and notarization support.

signNow DocuSign Adobe Sign PandaDoc HelloSign
Starting Price $8/user/mo $15/user/mo $14/user/mo $19/user/mo $15/user/mo
Free Trial Yes, 7-day trial Varies by vendor Varies by vendor Varies by vendor Varies by vendor
Bulk Send Yes Yes Yes Yes No
Audit Trail Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
HIPAA Compliant Yes Yes Yes No No

Frequently asked questions about Pennsylvania Special Warranty Deeds

Answers to common execution, recording, and title questions to reduce risk and speed transactions.


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