An Alabama special warranty deed, called a “statutory warranty deed,” is a property transfer document with a contractual promise that no third-party claims to the title were made while the seller (grantor) owned the property. While similar to the general warranty deed, it differs in that it does not provide any warranties against claims made while earlier owners held the title.

Statutory warranty deeds are common in situations where identifying prior owners is difficult, such as commercial (business) transactions, foreclosures, and estate proceedings. In transactions such as these where unexpected issues may occur, the deed provides grantors immunity against liability with regard to encumbrances caused from previous owners.