The petitioner must have the respondent served with the petition for custody, summons and other documents no later than 120 days after the petition is filed. Looking for divorce modifications in Utah?Call Melvin Cook, at 801-746-5075 to speak with an experienced Salt Lake City modifications attorney. The petition must name the custodian as the respondent and state the facts concerning the applicant's custody and include the legal basis for the request. Any person "in custody" can file a state habeas corpus petition. HOW DO I FILE A PETITION FOR WRIT OF HABEAS CORPUS: To file a habeas petition under §2254 or § 2255, you must complete special forms. Each of the justices shall have power to issue writs of habeas corpus, to any part of the. You may file a petition for a writ of habeas corpus under 28 U.S.C. § 2254 if you are in custody pursuant. ➢ Some courts require you to fill out special forms for habeas petitions. A typescript note in the document's file in the Joseph Smith Collection states the document came from Wood.