What is "estoppel by deed"

n. 1 (context legal English) A legal doctrine under which a first party who purports to sell real property that the first party does not actually own to a second party must actually convey that property to the second party if the first party later acquires title to that property. 2 (context legal archaic English) The doctrine that a party is bound to a claim which that party made in order to induce another party to act.

Estoppel is a common law doctrine which, when it applies, prevents a litigant from denying the truth of what was said or done. The doctrine of estoppel by deed (also known as after-acquired title) is a particular estoppel doctrine in the context of real property transfers. Under the doctrine, the grantor of a deed (generally the seller of a piece of real property) is estopped (barred) from denying the truth of the deed. The doctrine may only be invoked in a suit arising out of the deed, or involving a particular right arising out of the deed.

While rooted in warranty deeds, estoppel by deed has been extended to affect quitclaim deeds if the deed represents that the grantor actually had title.