What do I enter for place and date of name change of form DS-82?

Question: I was married 5 years ago but did not change my legal name till recently. What do I enter for question 11 on form DS-82 for place and date of name change: the date/place of the marriage certificate (5 yrs ago) or the date/place of my recent legal name change with Social Security?

Answer: *The passport will be issued in your legal name. Documents that serve as evidence of a legal name change include a marriage certificate, divorce decree or court order. A Social Security card is not acceptable as evidence of a name change.

If you assumed the new name at the time of your marriage but this is not stated on your marriage certificate, then you need to submit at least 3 public records showing your date and place of birth that show exclusive use of your assumed name for at least 5 years.

Also, the date and place of your marriage would be included on the passport application form DS-82 if that is the time that you assumed the new name.