Should the service of a probate judge be terminated prior to the time he is entitled to receive retirement benefits under this article, such probate judge shall have the right to elect to withdraw from the Judicial Retirement Fund and to have refunded his contributions to the Judicial Retirement Fund, plus accrued interest thereon, under the same rules and regulations and at the same rate governing the accrual and refund of interest under the Employees’ Retirement System of Alabama; provided, that should such probate judge not elect to withdraw from the Judicial Retirement Fund he shall be entitled to receive a certificate from the Secretary-Treasurer of the Employees’ Retirement System of Alabama showing the time of service he has accumulated toward retirement.

If any such judge has sufficient time of service for any retirement benefit provided by this article, upon reaching a retirement age or upon his death, such certificate may be filed as proof of time of service with the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.