The Short Answer

Often, yes—if the items were estate property (or property awarded to you by a decree of distribution), Pennsylvania’s Orphans’ Court can issue orders to secure and deliver estate assets and can enforce its decrees. The right remedy depends on whether you are the personal representative, whether there is already a court order identifying the property or awarding it to you, and what proof exists of what was removed.

What Pennsylvania Law Says

In Pennsylvania, the personal representative (executor/administrator) is responsible for identifying and marshaling estate assets, which includes preparing an inventory of the decedent’s personal property. When estate property is taken or withheld, Orphans’ Court proceedings may be used to compel delivery of assets and to address misconduct that jeopardizes the estate.

The Statute

The primary law governing the personal representative’s duty to identify estate property is 20 Pa.C.S. a7 3301.

This statute establishes that the personal representative must file a verified inventory of the decedent’s real and personal estate (with limited exceptions), which is a key foundation for proving what belonged to the estate and what may be missing.

If the issue is that a fiduciary is failing to do their job (including failing to pursue missing assets), the Orphans’ Court has authority to remove a personal representative when the estate is being wasted or mismanaged or when the estate’s interests are likely to be jeopardized. See 20 Pa.C.S. a7 3182.

Why You Should Speak with an Attorney

Even when you are clearly entitled to property (or a court order says you are), enforcing that right is rarely simple. Legal outcomes often depend on:

• Strict Deadlines: Probate disputes can involve time-sensitive objections, petitions, and appeal windows tied to Orphans’ Court decrees and accountings. Waiting too long can reduce practical options or make recovery harder.
• Burden of Proof: You typically need credible evidence of what the items were, that they belonged to the decedent/estate (or were awarded to you), and who removed or now possesses them. Photos, inventories, witness statements, and estate records can become critical.
• Exceptions and “ownership” disputes: Heirs often argue items were gifted before death, jointly owned, or not part of the estate. Those defenses can change the remedy and the forum, and they can require targeted court findings.

An attorney can evaluate whether the best path is an Orphans’ Court petition to enforce a decree, a petition seeking turnover/delivery of estate assets, objections in the accounting/distribution process, or action against a fiduciary who is not protecting the estate.

For more background reading, you may find these helpful: challenging an executor’s accounting and recovering missing estate funds in Pennsylvania and timing issues when family removes belongings in Pennsylvania.

Get Connected with a Pennsylvania Attorney

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Disclaimer: This article provides general information under Pennsylvania law and does not create an attorney-client relationship. Laws change frequently. For legal advice specific to your situation, please consult with a licensed attorney.