4. Where, before the 22nd of December, 1931, a register of civil status has been kept by the priest, missionary or minister referred to in section 3, but where a duplicate of the said register has not been deposited, as by law required, because of failure to keep the said register in duplicate or for other cause, the legal depositary of any such register, duly authorized for the purpose by resolution of the church, congregation or religious community concerned establishing the absence of such duplicate, is authorized to make, in a register numbered and authenticated as provided in the Civil Code, a facsimile copy of all the entries contained in the register in his possession, and shall certify to the same under oath or solemn affirmation before the hereinafter mentioned prothonotary.
Such copy shall thereupon be and remain deposited in the office of the prothonotary of the Superior Court of the district wherein the duplicate should have been originally deposited, and shall avail for all legal purposes as such duplicate, and shall be as valid as if the duplicate originally required had been duly deposited therein.
The legal depositary of any such register or copy made thereof to serve as a duplicate shall be bound to give extracts therefrom and the said extracts being certified and signed by him shall be authentic.
R. S. 1964, c. 311, s. 4; 1966, c. 15, s. 1.