exoneration

noun | \ ig-ˌzä-nə-ˈrā-shən, eg- \ | ex·on·er·a·tion

1. : the act of disburdening or discharging (as from a charge, liability, obligation, duty, or responsibility); also : the state of being so freed : the state of being so freed

2. a : the right of a person who has paid a debt for which he or she is only secondarily liable to be reimbursed by the person primarily liable

   b : the right of a surety to require a person or estate that is subject to a liability for which the surety is secondarily liable to discharge the liability thus relieving the surety; also : the equitable remedy by which the surety compels discharge of the liability : the equitable remedy by which the surety compels discharge of the liability