exoneration

Exoneration

The removal of a burden, charge, responsibility, duty, or blame imposed by law. The right of a party who is secondarily liable for a debt, such as a surety, to be reimbursed by the party with primary liability for payment of an obligation that should have been paid by the first party.

exoneration

noun absolution, absolution of a charge, acquittal, acquittance, act of indemnity, amnesty, bill of indemnity, clearance, clearing, discharge, dismissal of charges, dispensation, exculpation, excuse, forgiveness, freedom, freedom from accusation, freedom from guilt, freeing from blame, liberation, pardon, release, relief from, remission, reprieve, vindication, withdrawal of the charge
Associated concepts: exoneration clause in a will, exoneraaion of bail, pardon

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See also: absolution, acquittal, amnesty, compurgation, condonation, discharge, dispensation, exception, excuse, innocence, justification, liberation, pardon, release, remission

EXONERATION. The taking off a burden or duty.
     2. It is a rule in the distribution of an intestate's estate that the debts which he himself contracted, and for which be mortgaged his land as security, shall be paid out of the personal estate in exoneration of the real.
     3. But when the real estate is charged with the payment of a mortgage at the time the intestate buys it, and the purchase is made subject to it, the personal. is not in that case to be applied, in exoneration of the real estate. 2 Pow. Mortg. 780; 5 Hayw. 57; 3 Johns. Ch. R. 229.
     4. But the rule for exonerating the real estate out of the personal, does not apply against specific or pecuniary legatees, nor the widow's right to paraphernalia, and with reason not against the interest of creditors. 2 Ves. jr. 64; 1 P. Wms. 693; Id. 729; 2 Id. 120,335; 3 Id. 367. Vide Pow. Mortg. Index, h.t.