(a) The county clerk shall mark each fictitious business name statement with a file number and the date of filing and shall retain the original statement for his or her file. He or she may destroy or otherwise dispose of the statement, including proof of publication and any other references related to the fictitious business name statement, four years after the statement expires.
(b) The county clerk shall mark each statement of abandonment of use of fictitious business name or statement of withdrawal from partnership operating under fictitious business name with a file number and the date of filing. He or she may destroy or otherwise dispose of the statement at the same time the fictitious business name statement to which it relates is destroyed pursuant to subdivision (a).
(c) In lieu of retaining the original statement on file, the county clerk may retain a copy of the statement in accordance with Section 26205.1 of the Government Code.