All deeds, leases, contracts, releases of mortgages and other instruments necessary or proper in the administration of this chapter shall be executed in behalf of the state by the Department of Veterans' Affairs and shall be acknowledged by the department; and all deeds, mortgages, notes, insurance policies, abstracts and other instruments, documents and papers delivered to the department in the administration of those sections shall be kept in the custody of the department.
ORS 407.155