function verifyForm(form_id) {
		var myForm = document.getElementById(form_id);
		var errorMessage = '';
		var logMessage = "";
		var inputs = myForm.getElementsByTagName('input');
		var selects = myForm.getElementsByTagName('select');
		var textareas = myForm.getElementsByTagName('textarea');
		var idx = 0;
		logMessage += "Found " + inputs.length + " inputs\n";
		logMessage += "Found " + selects.length + " selects\n";
		logMessage += "Found " + textareas.length + " textareas\n";
		
		for(idx=0; idx<inputs.length ; idx++) {
			if(inputs[idx].getAttribute('required') == 'required') {
				logMessage += "found a required field: " + idx + " with value = " + inputs[idx].value  + "\n";
				if(inputs[idx].value.length == 0) {
					var myName = inputs[idx]['name'];
					myName = myName.replace(/_/g, ' ');
					errorMessage += "The field '" + myName + "' must not be empty.\n";
				}
			}
			if(inputs[idx].getAttribute('required') == 'requiredemail') {
							logMessage += "found a required field: " + idx + " with value = " + inputs[idx].value  + "\n";
							if(inputs[idx].value.length == 0 || inputs[idx].value.indexOf('@') == -1) {
									var myName = inputs[idx]['name'];
									myName = myName.replace(/_/g, ' ');
									errorMessage += "The field '" + myName + "' must not be empty or must contain a valid email address.\n";
							}
					}
		}
		
		
			
		for(idx=0; idx<selects.length ; idx++) {
			if(selects[idx].getAttribute('required') == 'required') {
				logMessage += "found a required field: " + idx + " with value = " + selects[idx].selectedIndex + "\n";
				if(selects[idx].selectedIndex == 0) {
					var myName = selects[idx]['name'];
					myName = myName.replace(/_/g, ' ');
					errorMessage += "You must choose an option from the '" + myName + "' drop-down menu.\n";
				}
			}
		}
		
		
		for(idx=0; idx<textareas.length ; idx++) {
			if(textareas[idx].getAttribute('required') == 'required') {
				logMessage += "found a required field: " + idx + " with value = " + textareas[idx].value  + "\n";
				if(textareas[idx].value.length == 0) {
					var myName = textareas[idx]['name'];
					myName = myName.replace(/_/g, ' ');
					errorMessage += "The field '" + myName + "' must not be empty.\n";
				}
			}
		}
		//atm app radio buttons
		if(myForm.cardtype) {
			var radiolength = myForm.cardtype.length;
			var chosen = '';	
			for(i=0;i<radiolength;i++) {
				if(myForm.cardtype[i].checked)	{
				chosen = myForm.cardtype[i].value;
				} 
			}
			if(chosen == '') {
			errorMessage += "You must select a card type.\n";	
			}
		}
		//checking_type
		if(myForm.checking_type) {
			var radiolength = myForm.checking_type.length;
			var chosen = '';	
			for(i=0;i<radiolength;i++) {
				if(myForm.checking_type[i].checked)	{
				chosen = myForm.checking_type[i].value;
				} 
			}
			if(chosen == '') {
			errorMessage += "You must select a checking type.\n";	
			}
		}
		//usemy_a
		if(myForm.usemy_a) {
			var radiolength = myForm.usemy_a.length;
			var chosen = '';	
			for(i=0;i<radiolength;i++) {
				if(myForm.usemy_a[i].checked)	{
				chosen = myForm.usemy_a[i].value;
				} 
			}
			if(chosen == '') {
			errorMessage += "You must select taxpayer identification.\n";	
			}
		}
		//usemy
		if(myForm.usemy) {
			var radiolength = myForm.usemy.length;
			var chosen = '';	
			for(i=0;i<radiolength;i++) {
				if(myForm.usemy[i].checked)	{
				chosen = myForm.usemy[i].value;
				} 
			}
			if(chosen == '') {
			errorMessage += "You must select First Deposit option.\n";	
			}
		}
		//joint_action
		if(myForm.joint_action) {
			var radiolength = myForm.joint_action.length;
			var chosen = '';	
			for(i=0;i<radiolength;i++) {
				if(myForm.joint_action[i].checked)	{
				chosen = myForm.joint_action[i].value;
				} 
			}
			if(chosen == '') {
			errorMessage += "You must select joint action option.\n";	
			}
		}
		//beneficiary_action
			if(myForm.beneficiary_action) {
			var radiolength = myForm.beneficiary_action.length;
			var chosen = '';	
			for(i=0;i<radiolength;i++) {
				if(myForm.beneficiary_action[i].checked)	{
				chosen = myForm.beneficiary_action[i].value;
				} 
			}
			if(chosen == '') {
			errorMessage += "You must select beneficiary action option.\n";	
			}
		}
		//sl_type
		if(myForm.Federal_Subsidized_Stafford_Loan) {
		if(!(myForm.Federal_Subsidized_Stafford_Loan.checked) && !(myForm.Federal_Unsubsidized_Stafford_Loan.checked) && !(myForm.Federal_Parent_Loan_PLUS.checked))
			errorMessage += "You must select a Student Loan type.\n";	
		}
		
		
		if(errorMessage !='') {
			alert("The following errors were found:\n" + errorMessage);
			return false;
		} else {
			//alert(logMessage + "\n\nErrormessage: " + errorMessage);
			return true;
		}
	}