Whenever any instrument in writing affecting real estate in any such county which has been theretofore recorded in the office of the register of deeds, shall be delivered to the register of deeds, the register of deeds shall examine the record and indexing of such instrument and shall reindex the same if any portion of such index be missing or illegible, and if the record of said instrument be destroyed or illegible, the register of deeds shall record said instrument together with the certificate of previous recording and shall reindex the same and the date of filing for record appearing in said original certificate of recording shall be deemed and taken as the date of record thereof. If a duly certified or authenticated copy of any such instrument is delivered to the register of deeds, the register of deeds shall reindex and record the same including the certification or authentication thereof, in the same cases and in the same manner and with like effect as hereinbefore provided in the case of original instruments. No fee shall be charged for the recording or indexing of instruments or copies pursuant to the provisions of this section.