Contribution

(1) The right of one who pays a common liability to recover from the others who share the liability. Example: A, B and C own property. A pays the property tax. A may recover from B and C that portion which B and C should have paid. (2) Decreasing the gifts in a will to pay creditors of the estate or those entitled to a portion of the estate who have been omitted. See also: Abatement.