[rockfan4]

This sucks.
The wife's son, who is 24 and has been on his own since graduating high school, wants to move to a different apartment in Minneapolis.
He and his roommates didn't read their existing lease. When they toured the apartment, the person showing it said they needed 30 days notice to move out. The lease they signed says 59 days. If they move when they plan to, that will require them to pay both rents for a month.
The landlord (company) at the new place want him to get his mommy to co-sign the lease. I'm sure they've been burned quite a bit over the last year and are looking to protect themselves, but how common is this? A quick search of apartments.com shows 256 available apartments or houses in their area and price range, couldn't they just find a different place to live? Maybe even wait a month, so they aren't paying double one month?
I don't know his two roommates, but I'm assuming they're asking all parents to co-sign.
It could be his work history, he's been laid off most of the last year since he works in the food service industry, but he did go back to work last week.

I do NOT want to be responsible for the rent on an apartment in Minneapolis, unless I'm putting up a hot young secretary. I don't have a hot young secretary.

Wisconsin is a community property state, so I presume whatever she signs, she signs for both of us.