Section 255. Clerk must search files upon request and certify as to result

A clerk of a court must, upon request, and upon payment of, or offer  to
  pay,  the  fees  allowed by law, or, if no fees are expressly allowed by
  law, fees at the rate allowed to a county clerk for a  similar  service,
  diligently search the files, papers, records, and dockets in his office;
  and  either  make  one  or  more  transcripts  or certificates of change
  therefrom, and certify to the correctness thereof, and to the search, or
  certify that a document or paper, of which the custody  legally  belongs
  to him, can not be found.