Pre-nuptial agreements are rising in popularity as couples seek to protect family wealth from a potential future split. But figures suggest they could be more trouble than they are worth as almost one in four couples who consider them never actually go through with the wedding.

Some lawyers say enquiries about the agreements have risen by as much as 70 per cent over the past decade, but those who look into protecting their wealth can end up killing the marriage before it has even begun.

One large law firm said that 21 per cent of engaged couples who enquired about a prenup called off the wedding after speaking to lawyers, and a further three per cent actually drew up the documents before changing their minds about getting married.

The figures give some ammunition to sceptics who say the agreements undermine the trust and romance of marriage.

But lawyers say the couples who decide to break up would have done so anyway - and it is better for the split to take place before the wedding, rather than after.