Despite once being the preserve of A-listers and the super-rich, signing a pre-nuptial agreement before tying the knot is becoming increasingly popular

More than half of under-35s say they would consider getting a pre-nuptial contract before they tie the knot.

Despite once being the preserve of A-listers and the super-rich, the contracts are becoming an increasingly popular choice for young people from all sorts of different backgrounds.

A pre-nuptial agreement or pre-nup is a contract entered into by a couple before their marriage which sets out how finances should be organised during the marriage - and what should happen with money and property in the event of a divorce.

The exact terms of each agreement varies from case to case and prenuptial agreements can be updated after marriage if the couple's circumstances change.

A survey of 3,125 people found that more than half of under-35s see the agreements as a 'completely normal' consideration and a third said they would 'happily' sign one.

The research found the main reason people wanted one was to protect assets and those of their parents - although many added they did not want to look like a 'money grabber'.

Some claimed they would consider one because their partner was 'not very good with money', while others said they had lost out in previous relationships and wanted to avoid repeating that experience.

The research also found 10 per cent of divorcees said they regretted not having a pre-nup.

However, the study also found that pre-nuptial agreements are not as popular with older people.

Just 17 per cent of over 55s said they would consider one, with most regarding them as 'unromantic'.

The research was commissioned by family law firm Slater and Gordon which said said it has seen an increase in the demand for pre-nups in the last year.

Andrew Newbury, head of family law at the firm, said: 'We are seeing more people come to us at the beginning of an engagement to help draw up a pre-nup.

'With the average age for first-time marriage now 32 for men and 30 for women, it is understandable that people want to protect their assets.'

A survey of 3,125 people found that more than half of under-35s see pre-nuptial agreements as a 'completely normal' consideration and a third said they would 'happily' sign one - but over-55s found them 'unromantic'

Half of those surveyed also said they try to keep finances separate in relationships, and 23 per cent said the agreements were the fairest way to divide assets.

But 17 per cent of those surveyed said they found the idea of pre-nups 'offensive' and one in four people surveyed said they thought prenups were for rich people.

Marilyn Stowe, a senior partner at Stowe Family Law the told The Times the increasing popularity of pre-nups was part of a disturbing trend.

She said: 'I definitely wouldn't enter into a relationship with someone who wanted me to sign one before we got married.