What happens if a party ignores a costs order and doesn't pay?

A costs order that isn't paid becomes a debt owed to the other party, and it's generally enforced the same way any other unpaid court judgment would be, rather than through the Family Responsibility Office, which is focused specifically on support obligations. That means the party owed the costs can use standard civil enforcement tools, such as registering the order against the debtor's property, garnishing wages or bank accounts, or pursuing a writ of seizure and sale, depending on what assets the other party has.

Ignoring a costs order doesn't make it go away, and unpaid costs can also affect how a court views that party's conduct going forward in the same case, since it can be seen as another instance of non-compliance with a court order. Enforcing a costs award can itself involve additional legal work and expense, so the practical value of pursuing enforcement depends on what the other party actually has available to collect against. Anyone owed unpaid costs should get legal advice on the most effective enforcement route given the other party's specific financial circumstances.