Exhibit 12

              [Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP letterhead]

                                December 17, 2004


Van Kampen High Income Corporate Bond Fund
1 Parkview Plaza
PO Box 5555
Oakbrook Terrace, Illinois 60181-5555

Van Kampen High Yield Fund
1 Parkview Plaza
PO Box 5555
Oakbrook Terrace, Illinois 60181-5555

Ladies and Gentlemen:

          We have acted as special counsel to the Van Kampen High Income
Corporate Bond Fund (the "Acquiring Fund"), an open-end management investment
company organized as a Delaware statutory trust, and to the Van Kampen High
Yield Fund (the "Target Fund"), the sole series of the Van Kampen Trust, an
open-end management investment company organized as a Delaware statutory trust,
in connection with the Acquiring Fund's acquisition of all of the assets of the
Target Fund, solely in exchange for Class A, Class B and Class C shares of
beneficial interest of the Acquiring Fund and the assumption by the Acquiring
Fund of all of the liabilities of the Target Fund, and the subsequent
liquidation of the Target Fund (collectively, the "Reorganization") pursuant to
the Agreement and Plan of Reorganization, dated April 30, 2004, between the
Acquiring Fund and the Target Fund (the "Agreement"). You have requested our
opinion regarding whether the Reorganization will be treated for United States
federal income tax purposes as a reorganization qualifying under Section 368(a)
of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"). Unless otherwise
defined, capitalized terms used in this opinion have the meanings assigned to
them in the Agreement.

          In connection with our opinion, we have reviewed originals or copies,
certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction, of the Agreement, the
Proxy Statement/Prospectus (prepared with respect to the Reorganization), the
Statement of Additional Information (also prepared with respect to the
Reorganization), and such other documents, certificates and records as we have
deemed necessary or appropriate as a basis for the opinion set forth below. We
have assumed that the Reorganization will be consummated in accordance with the
Agreement, the Proxy Statement/Prospectus, the Statement of Additional
Information and such other documents, certificates and records.

          For purposes of our opinion, we have assumed the legal capacity of all
natural persons, the genuineness of all signatures, the authenticity of all
documents submitted to us as originals, the conformity to original documents of
all documents submitted to us as certified, conformed or photostatic copies and
the authenticity of the originals of such latter documents. We have assumed that
such documents, certificates and records are duly authorized, valid and
enforceable.

          In rendering our opinion, we have also relied upon statements and
representations of officers and other representatives of the Acquiring Fund and
the Target Fund and have assumed that such statements and representations are
and will continue to be correct without regard to any qualification as to
knowledge or belief.

          In rendering our opinion, we have relied on the Code, Treasury
Regulations, judicial authorities, published positions of the Internal Revenue
Service (the "Service") and such other authorities as we have considered
relevant, all as in effect as of the date of this opinion and all of which are
subject to differing interpretations or change at any time (possibly with
retroactive effect). A change in the authorities upon which our opinion is based
could affect our conclusions. No assurance can be given that the Service would
not assert, or that a court would not sustain, a position contrary to this
opinion.

          Based upon and subject to the foregoing, we are of the opinion that,
for United States federal income tax purposes, the Reorganization will be
treated as a reorganization within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code.

          Except as set forth above, we express no other opinion. This opinion
is furnished to you solely for your benefit in connection with the
Reorganization and is not be relied upon by anyone else without our prior
written consent. This opinion is expressed as of the date hereof, and we
disclaim any undertaking to advise you of any subsequent changes of the matters
stated or assumed herein or any subsequent changes in applicable law.

                                        Very truly yours,

                                        /s/ Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher
                                        & Flom LLP