diff --git a/mkdocs_simple_plugin/plugin.py b/mkdocs_simple_plugin/plugin.py
index b3de6b52..a28782f1 100644
--- a/mkdocs_simple_plugin/plugin.py
+++ b/mkdocs_simple_plugin/plugin.py
@@ -117,6 +117,11 @@ class SimplePlugin(BasePlugin):
         # Otherwise, the build docs directory will be a temporary directory.
         ('build_docs_dir', config_options.Type(str, default='')),
 
+        # ### preserve_file_stats
+        # If true, when files are copied to local directories the file stats
+        # (eg last modified time) are preserved.
+        ("preserve_file_stats", config_options.Type(bool, default=False)),
+
         # ### include_extensions
         # Any file in the searched directories whose name contains a string in
         # this list will simply be copied to the generated documentation.
@@ -286,6 +291,7 @@ def on_config(self, config, **kwargs):
         config['docs_dir'] = self.build_docs_dir
         self.include_folders = self.config['include_folders']
         self.ignore_folders = self.config['ignore_folders']
+        self.preserve_file_stats = self.config["preserve_file_stats"]
         self.ignore_hidden = self.config['ignore_hidden']
         self.include_extensions = utils.markdown_extensions + \
             self.config['include_extensions']
@@ -383,7 +389,11 @@ def copy_file(self, from_directory, name, destination_directory):
             new_file = os.path.join(destination_directory, name)
             try:
                 os.makedirs(destination_directory, exist_ok=True)
-                shutil.copy(original, new_file)
+                # If desired, use copy2 to preserve file stats
+                if self.preserve_file_stats:
+                    shutil.copy2(original, new_file)
+                else:
+                    shutil.copy(original, new_file)
                 utils.log.debug("mkdocs-simple-plugin: {} --> {}".format(
                     original, new_file))
                 return True
@@ -410,6 +420,8 @@ def copy_docs_directory(self, root_source_directory,
         """Copy all files from source to destination directory."""
         if sys.version_info >= (3, 8):
             # pylint: disable=unexpected-keyword-arg
+            # Note that copytree uses copy2 under the hood, and so by default
+            # file stats are preserved
             shutil.copytree(root_source_directory,
                             root_destination_directory,
                             dirs_exist_ok=True)
@@ -426,7 +438,11 @@ def copy_docs_directory(self, root_source_directory,
                                                     file_)
                     if os.path.exists(destination_file):
                         os.remove(destination_file)
-                    shutil.copy(source_file, destination_directory)
+                    # If desired, use copy2 to preserve file stats
+                    if self.preserve_file_stats:
+                        shutil.copy2(source_file, destination_directory)
+                    else:
+                        shutil.copy(source_file, destination_directory)
                     utils.log.debug(
                         "mkdocs-simple-plugin: {}/* --> {}/*".format(
                             source_file, destination_file))
diff --git a/requirements.txt b/requirements.txt
index deec1d71..807b2a09 100644
--- a/requirements.txt
+++ b/requirements.txt
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ flake8==4.0.1
 mkdocs-awesome-pages-plugin==2.7.0
 mkdocs-macros-plugin==0.6.4
 mkdocs-material==8.2.6
-mkdocs==1.2.3
+mkdocs==1.2.4
 mkdocstrings==0.18.1
 pip-upgrader==1.4.15
 pydocstyle==6.1.1