I have run into this problem many times with child support "liens" that are out-of-state.  As far as I'm concerned, they are probably something I don't want to know about as long as it's not showing within the scope of my search.  That said, lenders usually require them to be paid like any other collection account would be.

I once considered doing credit reports along with a title search, but was advised against it by an underwriter's outside counsel because it would jeopardize a bona fide purchaser for value argument without actual notice.   I largely agree with this.  On a related note, we have a Torrens (registered property) system in Minnesota where judgments, otherwise properly docketed and venued, but not actually memorialized against the Torrens Certificate of Title are not liens against the registered property.  Generally, my legal opinion on these as liens depends upon how many digits the judgment amount has.