Chapter 6. Forms; Covenants and Warranties.
§ 42–601. Deed, mortgage, and lease forms.
The following forms or forms to the like effect shall be sufficient, and any covenant, limitation, restriction, or proviso allowed by law may be added, annexed to, or introduced in the said forms. Any other form conforming to the rules herein laid down shall be sufficient:
This deed, made this _______ day of _____, in the year ______, by me, ______, of ______, witnesseth, that in consideration of (here insert consideration), I, the said ______, do grant unto (here insert grantee’s name), of ______, all that (here describe the property).
Witness my hand and seal. _______________ [Seal.]
This deed, made this ______ day of ______, in the year ______, by us, ______ and ______, his or her spouse or domestic partner, of ______, witnesseth, that in consideration of ______, we, the said ______ and his or her spouse or domestic partner, do grant unto ______, of ______, and so forth.
Witness our hands and seals. _______________ [Seal.]
_______________ [Seal.]
This deed, made this _______ day of _____, in the year _____, by me, _______, of _______, witnesseth, that in consideration of ______, I, the said ______, do grant unto ______, of ______, all that (here describe the property), to hold during his life and no longer.
Witness my hand and seal. _______________ [Seal.]
This deed, made this _______ day of _____, in the year ______, by me, ______, of ______, witnesseth, that whereas (here insert the consideration for the deed), I, the said ______, do grant unto ______, of ______, as trustee, the following property (here describe it) in trust for the following purposes (here insert the trusts and any covenant that may be agreed upon).
Witness my hand and seal. _______________ [Seal.]
This deed, made this _______ day of _____, in the year ______, by me, ______, trustee, of ______, witnesseth: Whereas by a decree of (here insert court) passed on the ______ day of ______, in the cause of ______ versus ______, I, the said ______, was appointed trustee to sell the land decreed to be sold, and have sold the same to ______; and said sale has been ratified by said court, and said ______ has fully paid the purchase money due on said sale; now, therefore, in consideration of the premises, I, the said _____, do grant unto _____, of ______, all the right and title of all the parties to the aforesaid cause, in and to all that (here describe property).
Witness my hand and seal. _______________ [Seal.]
This deed, made this ______ day of ______, in the year ______, witnesseth, that I, ______, of ______, executor of the last will of ______, late of ______, deceased, under a power in said will contained, in consideration of ______, have sold and do hereby grant to ______, of ______, all that (here describe the property).
Witness my hand and seal. _______________ [Seal.]
This mortgage, made this ______ day of ______, in the year ______, witnesseth, that whereas I, ______, of _____, am indebted unto ______, of _____, in the sum of ______, payable ______, for which I have given to said ______ my (here describe obligation). Now, in consideration thereof, I hereby grant unto the said ______ all that (here describe property), provided that if I shall punctually pay said (notes or other instruments) according to the tenor thereof then this mortgage shall be void. And if I shall make default in such payment the said ______ is hereby authorized and empowered to sell said property at public auction on the following terms (here insert them), and out of the proceeds of sale to retain whatever shall remain unpaid of my said indebtedness and the costs of such sale, and the surplus, if any, to pay to me.
Given under my hand and seal. _______________ [Seal.]
This lease, made this _________ of _____, in the year ______, between ______, of ______, and ______, of ______, witnesseth, that the said ______ doth lease unto the said ______, his executor, administrator, and assigns, all that (here describe the property) for the term of ______ years, beginning on the ______ day of ______, in the year ______, and ending on the ______ day of __________, in the year _____, the said _____ paying therefor the sum of ______ on the _____ day of ______ in each and every year (or month, as the case may be).
Witness our hands and seals. _______________ [Seal.]
_______________ [Seal.]
§ 42–602. Deeds of corporations; formal requisites; acknowledgment.
The deed of a corporation shall be executed and acknowledged either (1) by an attorney-in-fact appointed for that purpose or (2) without appointment, by its president or a vice-president if also attested by the secretary or assistant secretary of the corporation.
§ 42–603. “Covenant” binds covenantor, covenantee, and their privies.
When, in any deed, the word “covenant” is used, such word shall have the same effect as if the covenant was expressed to be by the covenantor, for himself, his heirs, devisees, and personal representatives, and shall be deemed to be with the grantee or lessee, his heirs, devisees, personal representatives, and assigns.
§ 42–604. General warranty.
A covenant by the grantor, in a deed conveying real estate, “that he will warrant generally the property hereby conveyed,” or a grant of real estate in which the granting words are followed by the words “with general warranty,” shall have the same effect as if the grantor had covenanted that he, his heirs, devisees, and personal representatives will warrant and defend the said property unto the grantee, his heirs, devisees, personal representatives, and assigns against the claims and demands of all persons whomsoever.
§ 42–605. Special warranty.
A covenant by a grantor in a deed conveying real estate, “that he will warrant specially the property hereby conveyed,” or a grant of real estate in which the granting words are followed by the words “with special warranty,” shall have the same effect as if the grantor had covenanted that he, his heirs, devisees, and personal representatives will forever warrant and defend the said property unto the grantee, his heirs, devisees, personal representatives, and assigns against the claims and demands of the grantor and all persons claiming or to claim by, through, or under him.
§ 42–606. Covenant of quiet enjoyment.
A covenant by the grantor in a deed of land, “that the said grantee shall quietly enjoy said land,” shall have the same effect as if he had covenanted that the said grantee, his heirs, and assigns, shall, at any and all times after March 3, 1901, peaceably and quietly enter upon, have, hold, and enjoy the land conveyed by the deed or intended to be so conveyed, with all the rights, privileges, and appurtenances thereunto belonging, and to receive the rents and profits thereof, to and for his and their use and benefit, without any eviction, interruption, suit, claim, or demand whatsoever by the said grantor, his heirs or assigns, or any other person or persons whatever.
§ 42–607. Covenant against having encumbered land.
A covenant by a grantor, in a deed of land, “that he has done no act to encumber said land,” shall be construed to have the same effect as if he had covenanted that he had not done or executed or knowingly suffered any act, deed, or thing whereby the land and premises conveyed, or intended so to be, or any part thereof, are or will be charged, affected or encumbered in title, estate, or otherwise.
§ 42–608. Covenant for further assurances; contracts to contain soil characteristics information.
(a) A covenant by a grantor, in a deed of land, “that he will execute such further assurances of said land as may be requisite,” shall have the same effect as if he had covenanted that he, his heirs or devisees, will, at any time, upon any reasonable request, at the charge of the grantee, his heirs or assigns, do, execute, or cause to be done and executed, all such further acts, deeds, and things, for the better, more perfectly and absolutely conveying and assuring the lands and premises conveyed unto the grantee, his heirs and assigns, as intended to be conveyed, as by the grantee, his heirs or assigns, or his or their counsel learned in the law, shall be reasonably devised, advised, or required.
(b) All contracts drawn for the purpose of conveying real property in the District of Columbia shall contain the following information:
(1) Repealed.
(2) A notation that for further information the buyer can contact a soil testing laboratory, the District of Columbia Department of Environmental Services or the Soil Conservation Service of the Department of Agriculture; and
(3) If there is a Heritage Tree, as that term is defined in § 8-651.02(3A), on the property, a notation that the Heritage Tree is located on the property and that there are restrictions on the ability of property owners to remove Heritage Trees.
§ 42–609. Warranties void as to heirs; life tenants and certain parties not in possession.
All warranties which shall be made by any tenant for life, of any lands, tenements or hereditaments, the same descending or coming to any person in reversion or remainder, shall be void and of none effect, and likewise all collateral warranties, of any lands, tenements or hereditaments, by any ancestor, who has no estate of inheritance in possession in the same shall be void against the heir.
