Short answer

Yes — you often can try to recover personal property removed by heirs and ask a Massachusetts court to enforce its order. Which legal path is best depends on (1) the source of the court order (Probate and Family Court or another court), (2) whether the removed property belonged to the estate or to you personally, and (3) what the heirs did with the items (kept, sold, destroyed). Common remedies include asking the Probate and Family Court to enforce its order and hold the heirs in contempt, filing a civil action to recover specific items (replevin) or damages for conversion, or involving law enforcement if a crime occurred. Act quickly, document everything, and get local legal help for court filings and enforcement.

Detailed answer — what to know and what to do under Massachusetts law

1. Identify the governing order and the court

Start by confirming what court issued the order you want enforced and what the order actually says. If the order comes from the Probate and Family Court (for example, an order appointing a personal representative or directing turnover of estate property), the Probate Court generally has authority to enforce its own orders about estate property. If the order is from a District or Superior Court (for example, a judgment about possession after an eviction or a civil case), enforcement occurs in that same court.

Helpful state resources: Probate & Family Court information on Mass.gov — https://www.mass.gov/orgs/probate-and-family-court and Massachusetts General Laws (statutes) overview — https://malegislature.gov/Laws/GeneralLaws.

2. Enforcement in the Probate and Family Court: contempt, turnover, sequestration

If the heirs removed estate property in violation of a Probate Court order, you can ask that court to enforce its order. Common Probate remedies include:

• Motion to compel compliance or motion for turnover: Ask the judge to order return of the property or replacement value.
• Motion for contempt: If someone knowingly disobeyed a court order, the court can impose sanctions, fines, or other remedies, and order return of the property.
• Request for protective or preservative relief: The court can order seizure or preservation of estate property (sequestration or similar relief) to prevent further disposal.

These motions are typically filed in the same probate case that generated the original order. The Probate Court has broad discretion to supervise distribution of estate assets and to punish violations of its orders.

3. Civil actions to get property back: replevin or conversion/damages

If the order you have is not a probate order, or if heirs are outside the probate case, you can pursue civil claims in the trial courts:

• Replevin (an action to recover specific personal property): If you can identify and describe the items and show a right to possess them, a replevin action seeks return of the items themselves (or posting a bond and a hearing) rather than only money.
• Tort claims (conversion): If heirs have converted your property (used or sold it without permission), you can sue for the value of the items plus possible consequential damages.
• Small-claims: If the items have modest value, small-claims court may be a quicker, lower-cost option.

Which remedy is available depends on whether the items still exist and whether they can be specifically identified. If heirs sold or destroyed the items, money damages (conversion) may be the only realistic remedy.

4. Criminal remedies — when to involve police or prosecutors

Removing another person’s property may be a crime (theft or larceny) in some situations. You may report the theft to police, who will decide whether to investigate and forward charges to a prosecutor. Criminal proceedings are separate from civil enforcement — police may decline to act if the matter is primarily a civil dispute, but criminal charges can lead to different enforcement tools and consequences for wrongdoers.

5. Evidence and timing — preserve your claim

Time matters. Preserve evidence right away:

• Photos and video of the premises and items (date-stamped if possible).
• An inventory of items that were in the house and which ones were removed.
• Copies of the court order you seek to enforce and any estate inventories or appraisals.
• Communications with heirs (texts, emails, letters) and witness statements.
• Receipts, serial numbers, appraisals, or other proof of ownership or value.

Act quickly to prevent further disposition. If heirs sell items to third parties, you may need to subpoena records or pursue claims against buyers who knew of the wrongful taking.

6. Practical enforcement steps

1. Send a written demand for return of the property. A lawyer can draft a demand that cites the court order and warns of contempt or legal action.
2. If the demand fails, file the appropriate motion in the court that issued the order (for example, a motion for contempt or turnover in Probate Court).
3. If you don’t have a court order but have a legal right to the items, consider a replevin action or a claim for conversion in Trial Court or small-claims court.
4. If the situation suggests criminal conduct, consider filing a police report and cooperating with law enforcement.
5. Ask the court for immediate or emergency relief if heirs are actively disposing of estate property (ex parte relief or a temporary restraining order may be appropriate in urgent cases).

7. Possible outcomes and costs

The court can order return of the items, award monetary damages, impose contempt sanctions, and sometimes award attorneys’ fees if a party willfully disobeyed an order. Enforcement takes time and may require sheriff involvement to carry out seizures or returns. Consider the value of the items and enforcement costs when choosing a path.

Helpful Hints

• Confirm which court issued your order and file enforcement actions in that court.
• Preserve evidence immediately: photos, inventory lists, communications, receipts, serial numbers, affidavits from witnesses.
• Send a clear written demand for return before filing court action; this can help later show willful disobedience.
• If the items are part of an estate, bring the matter back to the Probate and Family Court first — that court supervises estate distribution.
• Consider replevin for specific-items recovery; use small-claims court for lower-value items to save time and money.
• File for contempt if a Probate Court order was disobeyed; courts can impose fines or order return of property.
• Report possible theft to police, but understand criminal and civil tracks are separate; police/prosecutor discretion varies.
• Avoid “self-help” repossession that could expose you to criminal charges or civil liability; use court-ordered enforcement instead.
• If heirs sold items to third parties, consider subpoenaing sale records or suing the buyer if they took items knowing of the wrongful taking.
• Talk to a Massachusetts attorney who handles probate or property recovery cases; many offer limited-scope consultations to review your documents and recommend immediate steps.

Where to get more information and help

Massachusetts Probate & Family Court information: https://www.mass.gov/orgs/probate-and-family-court

Massachusetts General Laws (statutes) and statute resources: https://malegislature.gov/Laws/GeneralLaws

For low-cost or free assistance, check local legal aid organizations and bar association referral services in Massachusetts.