can lawyers and or law firms charge up front fees to help with loan modifications?

Lawyers typically charge a retainer upfront. That money is placed in a client trust fund and only transferred to the attorney as the money is earned. In my experience, there is little an attorney can do to speed a loan modification that you cannot do yourself. I suggest being very careful about out of state firms which promise to help you avoid foreclosure and charge monthly fees regardless of the amount of work done on your behalf. I suggest making sure that you are paying an hourly rate for work completed, and not a standard fee that is charged regardless of court appearances of filings. Do you have a sale date? If you can get yourself in active consideration for a modification the bank will typically cancel the sale date. A Chapter 13 bankruptcy can be an effective tool to protect your home from foreclosure, and bankruptcy filings can be used to stop home sales. Do not be afraid to ask tough questions and use your best judgement. This information is intended to be general in nature and not specific to your circumstances. For specific legal advice, clients must meet with an attorney in person. Until such time, no attorney-client relationship is intended or formed.