Last September we were granted temporary custody of a cousin's son from a county court in Alabama. The custody orders states 'emergency temporary custody'. The mother of the child will be getting out of jail next week and the child wants to be with his mother. Do I have to wait for the mother to petition the court and for the court to grant the petition, or can I relinquish my custody and give him back to his mother. The court in Alabama did take this child and 3 others away from his mother and stepfather before she was arrested. I'm not sure if that makes a big difference or not.

Yes the mother has to make a motion with the court to get the kids back, depending on the charge the mother was charged with, they may require her to take some classes, or remain out of trouble for so many months before they will let her have the kids back.