Are there any restrictions on the types of documents that can be notarized?

The correct answer indicates that there are indeed restrictions on the types of documents that can be notarized, specifically highlighting that documents that are illegal or fraudulent cannot be notarized. This principle is fundamental to the role of a notary public, which is to serve as an impartial witness to the signing of documents and to help ensure that the transactions are legitimate and in good faith.

Notaries have a duty to refuse to notarize any document that they know or have reason to believe is associated with illegal activity or is intended for fraudulent purposes. This is essential for maintaining the integrity of notarization as a trusted process. Therefore, if a document is clearly illegal or involves deception, notarizing it would not only be unethical but could also have legal repercussions for the notary.

In contrast, the other options misrepresent the nature of notarization. The assertion that any document can be notarized overlooks this ethical obligation, while stating that only real estate documents or only government-issued documents are restricted misguides the understanding of a notary's responsibilities and the broad scope of documents that can be considered for notarization, barring those that are illegal or fraudulent.