Action by head required to change a name (4,4)
I believe the answer is:
deed poll
'to change a name' is the definition.
I can't tell whether this defines the answer.
'action by head' is the wordplay.
'action' becomes 'deed' (deed is a kind of action).
'by' means one lot of letters go next to another.
'head' becomes 'poll' (poll is a now rare word for head or scalp).
'deed'+'poll'='DEED-POLL'
'required' acts as a link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for deed poll that I've seen before include "Legal document made and executed by one party only" , "Legal document used in changing one's name" , "means to change name" , "By which legal names are changed?" , "Means of changing name" .)