§ 37-10-3 — Copies from records as evidence; fees

All copies in whole or in part of books, records, documents and papers, which have heretofore been or which shall hereafter be procured from the state of Virginia by the agent of the Governor of this state, under and by virtue of said act of the general assembly of Virginia, and which shall be placed and kept in the Auditor's office under the provisions of this article, shall be treated and held to be prima facie correct, and may be used for all purposes in like manner and with like effect as the originals from which they were copied could be used: Provided, however, That any person shall have the right to prove that any such copy or any part thereof was not correctly made from the original in Virginia, and that it is not a correct copy of such original. The Auditor shall take charge of and be the custodian and keeper of the books, documents and papers mentioned in this article, and make and certify copies or abstracts thereof. The books in the Secretary of State's office, containing the record of land grants, surveys and plats shall be transferred to the Auditor's office, and the Auditor shall be the custodian and keeper of such books; and copies thereof attested by the Auditor shall be held to be prima facie correct and may be used for all purposes in like manner and with like effect as the originals from which they were copied could be used. For making searches and certifying copies and abstracts from such books, documents and papers the Auditor shall charge such fees as are allowed by law to clerks of the county courts for like services, which fees shall be allowed when the services are rendered. A record and account shall be kept of all such fees. Such fees shall be paid into the State Treasury at the end of every six months.