John Edwards and Elizabeth Edwards

John Edwards and his wife of 32 years, Elizabeth Edwards, have legally separated, ABC News reported.

It's unknown when the couple filed for legal separation but John, 56, is no longer living at their Chapel Hill, N.C., home, according to ABC. Under North Carolina law, they must be legally separated for a year before divorcing.

John Edwards acknowledges paternity of mistress' daughter

Less than a week ago, the two-time Democratic presidential candidate and former North Carolina senator admitted he was the father of his former mistress' 2-year-old daughter. John first publicly acknowledged his affair with Rielle Hunter, a videographer for his 2008 presidential campaign, in August 2008. At the time, Edwards had said the timing of the affair made it impossible for him to be the father of Hunter's daughter, Francis Quinn Hunter.

Elizabeth, 60, is currently battling breast cancer. John and Elizabeth have three children together: Cate, 27; Emma Claire, 11, and Jack, 9. Their eldest child, Wade, was killed in a car accident in 1996.