Is a lien from previous owner/property overseen by escrow transferred to new property owners?

Did you receive title insurance when you bought your home? If so, then this should be covered by the title insurance. If the title company does not agree immediately to take care of it, then you will need an experienced real estate attorney to persuade the title company to do the right thing. If you don't have title insurance, then you will need to sue the sellers. The use of the word "grant" in the deed, triggers a statute which establishes a warranty by the sellers that they did not create any liens on the property which are not described in the deed itself. When you sue the ex-wife over something the ex-husband did, you will have her as an ally to get him to do the right thing. Dana Sack