I think it is ethical to charge an administrative fee of something like 199 to get the file started and to "talk and begin starting your paperwork, gathering information - paying you for your beginning legwork" that is non-refundable - but as 877 says - you may want to charge a "deposit" upfront and put it into an escrow account until the file has completed, and then that escrow account pays you for your completed work, if it doesn't go through - then that escrow account pays the client back the deposit.... but 877 is the expert on that part.... just giving my two cents and understanding of it....
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