function validateForm(frmAssess)
// first we validate the applicant's main details
	{
		if(""==document.forms.frmAssess.firstname.value) 
			{
				alert("Please enter your first name .");
				document.forms.frmAssess.firstname.focus();
				return false;
			}
			
		if(""==document.forms.frmAssess.lastname.value)
			{
				alert("Please enter your last name.");
				document.forms.frmAssess.lastname.focus();
				return false;
			}
			
		if(0==document.forms.frmAssess.day01.selectedIndex)
			{
				alert("Please enter your DAY of birth .");
				document.forms.frmAssess.day01.focus();
				return false;
			}
			
		if(0==document.forms.frmAssess.month01.selectedIndex)
			{
				alert("Please enter your MONTH of birth.");
				document.forms.frmAssess.month01.focus();
				return false;
			}
			
		if(0==document.forms.frmAssess.year01.selectedIndex)
			{
				alert("Please enter a your YEAR of birth.");
				document.forms.frmAssess.year01.focus();
				return false;
			}
			
		if(""==document.forms.frmAssess.streetaddress1.value)
			{
				alert("Please enter your house name or number.");
				document.forms.frmAssess.streetaddress1.focus();
				return false;
			}
			
		if(""==document.forms.frmAssess.streetaddress2.value)
			{
				alert("Please enter a valid street address.");
				document.forms.frmAssess.streetaddress2.focus();
				return false;
			}
			
		if(""==document.forms.frmAssess.city.value)
			{
				alert("Please enter a valid city.");
				document.forms.frmAssess.city.focus();
				return false;
			}
			
		if(""==document.forms.frmAssess.county.value)
			{
				alert("Please enter a valid county.");
				document.forms.frmAssess.county.focus();
				return false;
			}
			
		if(""==document.forms.frmAssess.postcode.value)
			{
				alert("Please enter a valid postcode.");
				document.forms.frmAssess.postcode.focus();
				return false;
			}
			
		if(""==document.forms.frmAssess.email1.value)
			{
				alert("Please enter your email address.");
				document.forms.frmAssess.email1.focus();
				return false;
			}
			
			
		if(""==document.forms.frmAssess.email2.value)
			{
				alert("Please enter your email address again.");
				document.forms.frmAssess.email2.focus();
				return false;
			}
			
		if(document.forms.frmAssess.email1.value!=document.forms.frmAssess.email2.value) // check to see whether the email address match
			{
				alert("Your email addresses do not match - please enter them again.");
				document.forms.frmAssess.email1.focus();
				return false;
			}
// now we validate the spouse info if "Married" is slected
		if(1==document.forms.frmAssess.maritalstatus.selectedIndex)
			{
				if(""==document.forms.frmAssess.spousefirstname.value)
					{
						alert("Please enter your spouses first name.");
						document.forms.frmAssess.spousefirstname.focus();
						return false;
					}
				if(""==document.forms.frmAssess.spouselastname.value)
					{
						alert("Please enter your spouses last name.");
						document.forms.frmAssess.spouselastname.focus();
						return false;
					}
				if(0==document.forms.frmAssess.day03.selectedIndex)
					{
						alert("Please enter your spouse's DAY of birth .");
						document.forms.frmAssess.day03.focus();
						return false;
					}
				if(0==document.forms.frmAssess.month03.selectedIndex)
					{
						alert("Please enter your spouse's MONTH of birth.");
						document.forms.frmAssess.month03.focus();
						return false;
					}
				if(0==document.forms.frmAssess.year03.selectedIndex)
					{
						alert("Please enter a your spouse's YEAR of birth.");
						document.forms.frmAssess.year03.focus();
						return false;
					}
				
			}
// now we validate the Partner info if "partner" is slected
		if(2==document.forms.frmAssess.maritalstatus.selectedIndex)
			{
				if(""==document.forms.frmAssess.partnerfirstname.value)
					{
						alert("Please enter your partner's first name.");
						document.forms.frmAssess.partnerfirstname.focus();
						return false;
					}
				if(""==document.forms.frmAssess.partnerlastname.value)
					{
						alert("Please enter your partner's last name.");
						document.forms.frmAssess.partnerlastname.focus();
						return false;
					}
				if(0==document.forms.frmAssess.day02.selectedIndex)
					{
						alert("Please enter your partner's DAY of birth .");
						document.forms.frmAssess.day02.focus();
						return false;
					}
				if(0==document.forms.frmAssess.month02.selectedIndex)
					{
						alert("Please enter your partner's MONTH of birth.");
						document.forms.frmAssess.month02.focus();
						return false;
					}
				if(0==document.forms.frmAssess.year02.selectedIndex)
					{
						alert("Please enter a your partner's YEAR of birth.");
						document.forms.frmAssess.year02.focus();
						return false;
					}
				
			}
	}