Eddie Murphy's marriage faltered over a pre-nup

US actor Eddie Murphy did not make his marriage to Tracey Edmonds legal because she refused to sign a prenuptial agreement.

Murphy is said to have put a stop to plans for the couple to have a second marriage ceremony in the States two weeks after they had a "symbolic" wedding because his bride wanted the right to half of his personal fortune in the event of a divorce.

According to the New York Post, a source said: "When it came down to the legal marriage, Tracey wouldn't sign a pre-nup."

In addition, it is thought that Murphy unsuccessfully tried to get his wife-to-be to take his surname but she refused, which added to the tensions in their relationship.

Murphy, 47, and film producer Edmonds had their "symbolic union" on New Year's Day on an island close to Bora Bora in French Polynesia. However, they released a joint statement two weeks later to People magazine which revealed that they had separated.

It read: "After much consideration and discussion, we have jointly decided that we will forego having a legal ceremony as it is not necessary to define our relationship further."

Comedic actor Murphy was previously married to Nicole Mitchell, with whom he has five children, from 1993 to 2006.

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