A writ of habeas corpus is another means to fighting the legality of one's incarceration or proving actual innocence. A writ of habeas corpus refers to a court order that is issued to either an agency or a person who is holding someone in custody.Habeas corpus, which is Latin for "you may have the body," is a legal principle that protects against unlawful detention or imprisonment. The writ of habeas corpus is the remedy to be used when any person is restrained in his liberty. The appropriate remedy is to seek a writ of habeas corpus. Writs share some similarities with appeals, but they differ in one critically important aspect. To initiate a state writ of habeas corpus in Texas, a person must first file a petition with the appropriate court. An application for a writ of habeas corpus asks a court to overturn your conviction because of a state or federal constitutional violation. Anyone can file a writ of habeas corpus including individuals with knowledge of someone being unlawfully detained. If they are all from the same proceedings, must fill out a separate form for each cause number.