1. Whenever the records, or any material part thereof, of any county in this State have been lost or destroyed by fire or otherwise, or shall hereafter be lost or destroyed by fire or otherwise, any map, plat, deed, conveyance, contract, mortgage, deed of trust, power of attorney, or other instrument in writing, of whatever nature or character, or record in any proceeding authorized by law to be recorded, affecting the title to real property or water rights in such county, which have been heretofore recorded, or which may be hereafter recorded, may be rerecorded in the proper office therefor.
2. In rerecording the same, the officer shall record the certificate of the previous record with the date of original filing for record shown by the official endorsement on such original instrument, which shall be deemed and taken as the date of the recording of the instrument to which it is attached.
3. Where the person desiring such record shall produce to the recorder an affidavit showing that the original is lost or destroyed, or that the same is not in the person’s possession or control, a duly certified copy of the original may be recorded in the same manner and with the same force and effect as the original under this chapter.
4. Copies of records herein authorized to be made, duly certified, shall have the same force and effect as evidence as certified copies of the original instrument or record.
[1911 CPA § 688; RL § 5630; NCL § 9177]