<prompt> Human: My parents got married young and didnt want regular jobs. My father made his own business and it worked well for them then, but my father did not pay all of his IRS taxes. My mother was never a business partner or co-owner of the business. She is a high school drop out and was never legally involved in my fathers business. They divorced back in 2013 but my fathers IRS debt is following my mother. Can I do anything to help my mother here? Can I get rid of my her debt so she can start with a clean slate?  <response>: My father made his own business and it worked well for them then, but because my father did not pay all of his IRS taxes.There, fixed it. and was never legally involved in my fathers businessIf your fathers business was a sole proprietorship or partnership it almost certainly was, and he was filing jointly with your mom he almost certainly was then she was very much legally involved in your fathers business, despite not being materially involved, which I think is what you mean. Can I do anything to help my mother here? Can I get rid of my her debt so she can start with a clean slate?I agree with rBananerRammer that this is a question for lawyers. Start with a tax lawyer, and ask that lawyer if a divorce lawyer may be able to help. Im really only chiming in to moderate your expectations. Assuming a 5050 asset split in the divorce, why do you think your mother shouldnt have to pay back taxes on her share of those assets? Why would the government give her a pass? You should expect her to owe money, even if you can negotiate a settlement with the IRS. 