General Warranty Deed
(Residential Transaction) (WI)

Summary

This general warranty deed template is for use by a seller in a Wisconsin residential purchase and sale transaction to convey title to a buyer via general warranty. This template includes practical guidance, drafting notes, and an alternate clause. A general warranty deed provides full warranties from the seller to the buyer that (1) the seller has good title to the property, (2) the seller has the right and power to convey the property, and (3) the property is free from claims or encumbrances, except as specifically described in the deed. This template may be tailored to suit each transaction. There is no statutory deed form in Wisconsin but guidance as to form and construction can be found at Wis. Stat. Ann. § 706.10. Deeds must be recorded in the county in which the real estate is situated. See Wis. Stat. Ann. § 706.05(1). In order to be recorded in Wisconsin, the deed must contain the following: • Signatures as required by law • Form of authentication • Identity of the land • Form containing the value of ownership interest transferred See Wis. Stat. Ann. § 706.05(2), Wis. Stat. Ann. § 706.05(12), and Wis. Stat. Ann. § 77.22(2). For more on deeds in general, see Types of Deeds and Key Provisions. See also Thompson on Real Property, Thomas Editions § 82.04 and Powell on Real Property § 81A.03. For templates of other deeds to use in residential transactions in Wisconsin, see Special Warranty Deed (Residential Transaction) (WI) and Quitclaim Deed (Residential Transaction) (WI). For templates of other deeds to use in commercial transactions in Wisconsin, see Warranty Deed (Statutory) (Commercial Transaction) (WI), General Warranty Deed (Commercial Transaction) (WI), Quitclaim Deed (Commercial Transaction) (WI), and Special Warranty Deed (Commercial Transaction) (WI). For guidance on Wisconsin acknowledgments, see Commercial Real Estate Ownership (WI). For information on deed transfer taxes, see Deed Transfer Tax State Law Survey. For general information on recording real property documents, see Recording Real Property Documents. For further guidance on acknowledgments, see Statutory Forms of Acknowledgment State Law Survey. For a full listing of key content covering purchasing and selling residential real estate, see Purchasing and Selling Residential Real Estate Resource Kit. For a full listing of key content covering purchasing and selling commercial real estate, see Purchasing and Selling Commercial Real Estate Resource Kit. See also Junior Associate Real Estate Resource Kit (Commercial Purchase and Sale). For a list of key resources covering real estate-related tasks for associates, in-house attorneys, and interns, see First Year Associate Resource Kit: Real Estate, Summer Associate Resource Kit: Real Estate, In-House Real Estate Resource Kit, and Federal Government Summer Intern Resource Kit: Real Estate.