Detailed Answer

Short answer: Possibly. You may be able to get the items back or monetary compensation. The best route depends on whether the items belonged to the estate or to a specific beneficiary, whether a court already issued an order giving you possession, and whether the heirs acted before or after an official turnover.

Key legal concepts in Alaska that apply:

• Probate and administration rules control who has legal title and who may possess estate property. See Alaska Title 13 – Probate, Trusts and Fiduciaries for the governing framework: https://www.akleg.gov/basis/statutes/13.
• Civil remedies exist to recover specific personal property removed from your control, including replevin (an action to recover possession of specific items) or a tort claim for conversion (money damages). The Alaska court rules and civil procedure govern those actions; see Alaska Court Rules: https://www.courts.alaska.gov/rules/rules.htm.
• If a court already issued an order giving you possession and someone disregards that order, the issuing court has powers to enforce its orders, including sanctions or contempt. Enforcement procedures generally run through the Alaska superior court where the probate or civil order was entered. See Alaska statutes on the courts for more about court powers: https://www.akleg.gov/basis/statutes/09.

Typical scenarios and likely remedies

1) Items taken from estate property before you were appointed or before probate closed:

If heirs removed items while the estate was still open and before you were legally entitled to possession, the probate court can order return of estate property or compensation to the estate. The personal representative or an interested party should notify the probate court, ask for an inventory or turnover hearing, and seek an order requiring return of the items or monetary relief.

2) Items removed after a court ordered turnover or after you had a court-awarded right to possess the house:

Removal after a court order raises enforcement issues. You can ask the same court that issued the possession order to enforce it. Typical enforcement tools include a motion to compel compliance, a request for sanctions, or a contempt proceeding. The court may order return of the property, monetary sanctions, or other relief to make you whole.

3) Items that belong to a named beneficiary (not to the estate):

If the heir removed items that the will or court order expressly awarded to you (or to another named beneficiary), you can seek recovery directly through the probate court or by filing a civil action for replevin or conversion to recover the specific property or its value.

4) Items removed and sold, damaged, or disposed of:

If the items no longer exist or were sold, you may seek money damages for conversion or unjust enrichment. The probate court can also address these claims as part of estate administration in many cases.

Practical enforcement steps

1. Preserve evidence: document what is missing with photos, inventories, witnesses, and contemporaneous communications (texts, emails, letters).
2. Check existing court orders and probate filings: confirm whether a probate personal representative has been appointed and whether a turnover or possession order exists.
3. Send a written demand: ask the person who removed the items to return them immediately. A clear demand letter helps your later case and may be a prerequisite for court action.
4. Return to the probate court or file a civil action: if the probate court entered the original order, file a motion to enforce that order or to sanction noncompliance. If there is no adequate ongoing probate proceeding, consider a replevin action or a claim for conversion in the superior court.
5. Seek immediate relief if items are at risk: depending on urgency, you may seek an ex parte temporary order (for example, an order prohibiting sale or transfer of the items) — courts will grant emergency orders only with a strong factual showing.
6. Consider criminal avenues if appropriate: if property was stolen, you can report the matter to law enforcement; criminal prosecution is separate from civil recovery but may provide helpful evidence.

Who should file and where

If an estate is open, the personal representative or an interested person should file motions in the probate division of the Alaska superior court where the estate is being administered. If no probate proceeding is available or the items belong to a named beneficiary, a civil replevin or conversion lawsuit in superior court is generally appropriate. Local court clerks can confirm filing requirements and fees.

Time limits and practical considerations

Statutes of limitations and procedural deadlines can bar claims if you wait too long. For example, tort claims like conversion typically have statutory deadlines; you should act promptly to preserve rights. Consult local court rules and consider contacting an attorney quickly to avoid losing remedies.

Helpful Hints

• Document everything now: take photos, write down who removed what and when, and collect witness names. Courts care about clear timelines and evidence.
• Keep copies of wills, inventories, and any court orders related to possession or distribution.
• Start with the probate court that handled the estate. If the same judge issued the possession or distribution order, that court is the correct place to ask for enforcement.
• Try a demand letter first. Many disputes resolve after a formal written demand, avoiding litigation costs.
• If property is at risk of being moved out of state or sold, ask the court for emergency relief right away; delay can be fatal to recovery.
• Know the difference between estate property and property specifically devised to someone. Remedies and procedures differ depending on ownership at the relevant time.
• Consider both civil and criminal avenues. Criminal theft or burglary charges do not replace civil recovery, but they can aid your civil case.
• Talk to an Alaska attorney early. Even a short consultation can clarify deadlines and the best procedural path (probate enforcement, replevin, contempt, or conversion).