A general warranty deed holds which party liable for actions of predecessors in title?

In the context of a general warranty deed, the grantor is the party held liable for the actions of predecessors in title. This type of deed provides the highest level of protection to the grantee, as it includes several covenants that ensure the grantor guarantees clear title to the property.

Specifically, the grantor warrants that they have the legal right to convey the property and that the title is free from any defects or encumbrances, not just during their ownership, but extending back to all prior owners. This means that if a defect in the title arises from actions or issues related to predecessors, the grantor is responsible for addressing these claims. The grantor essentially gives the grantee assurance that if any legal problems arise due to past issues, the grantor will be liable to fix the problem or compensate the grantee.

This structure is designed to protect the interests of the grantee and provides them with greater security in their ownership of the property. The other parties mentioned—trustee, beneficiary, and grantee—do not have this same level of responsibility concerning the actions of previous owners under a general warranty deed.