Abatement, speaking broadly, is simply the act of lowering something in magnitude or possibly eliminating that thing completely. In terms of law, abatement also refers to some sort of lessening or reduction in magnitude, in this case specifically of a tax or debt or lawsuit. For any one of several reasons, any of these types of abatement can take place, often in lieu of a worse scenario or in order to correct some error. The IRS, for example, is known to offer relief in the form of abatement towards taxpayers who have shown themselves trustworthy but made an understandable error. Lead abatement programs, available in a number of states, offer funding and service to homeowners whose property contains lead in quantities that pose certain negative injury and/or safety considerations. Abatement is also significant in personal injury law pertaining to lawsuits, in which abatement can terminate ongoing litigation for various reasons.