The Doctrine of Exoneration addresses who is responsible for paying the debt attached to an inherited asset if the will is otherwise silent. Suppose John Smith, a single man, owns a house with a mortgage. John wants his brother to inherit the house and he wants to leave the rest of his estate to his sister. When John makes out his will, he makes a specific bequest (gift) of the house to John, and leaves the rest of his estate to his sister. John’s will does not specifically address the issue of the mortgage.