Do they explain why it is important for the property owner to have a certified copy of their deed? The property owner probably has an original of the deed which was returned to him after it was recorded. If the original has been lost or destroyed the purpose of the American system of recordation is designed to preserve indicia of ownership in a central repository. It would seem that the property owner has the option of obtaining a certified or uncertified copy of his deed at his leisure if the need arises.

Several years ago I had occasion to work in conjunction with a law firm in Bristol, England. I was told at that time that England was just adopting the American system of recording. They said at the time about half the country was on the "new" American system and the rest was still on the older British system. It was explained to me that under the older system a property owner's deed or Torrens certificate was bound into a group of deeds/Torrens certificates. I suppose this was their chain of title. They  indicated that under the old system there could be a problem with chain of title if the original deed/Torrens certicate were lost or destroyed. They must not have had a back up system until the recording system was adopted.