§ 8-34. Copies of official writings. - North Carolina Statutes

Article3.

Public Records.

§ 8‑34.  Copies ofofficial writings.

(a)        Copies of allofficial bonds, writings, papers, or documents, recorded or filed as records inany court, or public office, or lodged in the office of the Governor,Treasurer, Auditor, Secretary of State, Attorney General, Adjutant General, orthe State Department of Cultural Resources, shall be as competent evidence asthe originals, when certified by the keeper of such records or writings underthe seal of the keeper's office when there is such seal, or under the keeper'shand when there is no such seal, unless the court shall order the production ofthe original. Copies of the records of the board of county commissioners shallbe evidence when certified by the clerk of the board under the clerk's hand andseal of the county.

(b)        The provisions ofsubsection (a) of this section shall apply to records stored on any form ofpermanent, computer‑readable media, such as a CD‑ROM, if the mediumis not subject to erasure or alteration. Nonerasable, computer‑readablestorage media shall not be used for preservation duplicates, as defined in G.S.132‑8.2, or for the preservation of permanently valuable records asprovided in G.S. 121‑5(d), except to the extent expressly approved by theDepartment of Cultural Resources pursuant to standards and conditionsestablished by the Department. (1792, c. 368, s. 11, P.R.;R.C., c. 44, s. 8; 1868‑9, c. 20, s. 21; 1871‑2, c. 91; Code, ss.715, 1342; Rev., s. 1616; C.S., s. 1779; 1961, c. 739; 1973, c. 476, s. 48;1999‑131, s. 3; 1999‑456, s. 47(c).)