Abatement Legal Meaning and Definition

Here is a simplified definition of the legal term Abatement.

Abatement (noun):

1. In chancery practice, it refers to the temporary suspension of all activities in a lawsuit due to the absence of capable parties who can proceed with the case.
2. It represents a reduction granted by the creditor for the immediate payment of a debt by the debtor.
3. At the custom-house, it is an act of subtracting from the duties charged on goods when they have been damaged.
4. In matters of inheritance, it signifies a reduction in legacies to aid in payment of the testator’s debts.
5. It is the removal or reduction of a private or public nuisance.