Whenever requested, the clerk or court administrator shall furnish to any person a certified copy of any portion of the records or files in the custody of the clerk or court administrator. No person other than the clerk or court administrator or a representative designated by the clerk or court administrator is entitled to make such copy, or to have the use of the records or files for such purpose. Whenever requested, the clerk or court administrator shall search the records and files, and give a certificate thereof according to the nature of the inquiry. [Amended by 1971 c.193 § 16; 1979 c.833 § 2; 1985 c.540 § 9]