The deed type controls what the grantor promises about the title. A general warranty deed gives the strongest assurances: the seller warrants they own the property, have the right to convey it, and will defend the buyer against title claims arising any time in the property’s history — it’s the norm in arm’s-length sales. A special (or limited) warranty deed warrants only against claims that arose during the seller’s own ownership, common with banks, builders, and estates. A quitclaim deed makes no warranties at all — it simply releases whatever interest, if any, the grantor has; it’s used to transfer between family members or entities, add or remove a spouse, or clear up a cloud on title, not to buy a home. Whatever the deed type, an owner’s title insurance policy is what actually protects your ownership going forward.