You may not yet know if you want to get a divorce, but if you think that one is coming in the future, now is the time to look for signs that your spouse is spying on you. Did you know that around one out of every five spouses uses spy gear to spy on their partner before they file for divorce?

According to one study from a divorce agency, around 20% of ex-spouses admit to engaging in spy activities against their spouses, even though those actions may be illegal. The number of people doing this seems to be growing, too, with the firm suggesting that the increase from a decade ago is around 60%.

Why do spouses spy more today?

One of the simplest reasons is because it’s so much easiest to spy on your spouse today. Technological advances have made it possible to use dash cams, tracking devices and spy software on phones. It is easier than ever to track someone or to use a nanny cam to keep an eye on them.

It’s always all about your spouse. If you have something you want to do but it isn’t something they approve of, they make you feel terrible about it. They make life about their experiences and make it seem like they’re the best thing that has ever happened to you, even though you feel terrible in your relationship.

If this sounds familiar, you may be getting ready to divorce a narcissist. Divorcing is tough regardless of who you’re leaving, but when you try to leave a narcissist, things could get messy. Here’s what you can do to prepare.

1. Prepare to face irrational actions from your partner

The first thing to do is to prepare to face your partner being irrational. At first, they might fight to get you to stay. They may shower you with gifts and things you’ve wanted to do. That’s all to make you guilty and to get you to stay.

Some people make the decision to divorce and act instantly, but many others take time to prepare before they file. It is important to make arrangements to live independently and protect yourself financially when you file for divorce. However, you have to be careful about how you attempt to do so.

The wrong actions could look like misconduct to the courts and possibly undermine your rights in the divorce proceedings. You have to be honest about any property you take, especially if it is community property under Texas law.

How could your financial preparation for divorce lead to accusations of misconduct?

If you have a spouse who was wealthy prior to your marriage and would like to divorce them, you may find yourself in a unique position. In some ways, divorcing can be beneficial for you. You can leave a relationship that is not working for you. You have the option of fighting for a share of your marital assets, too.

At the same time, divorcing someone who is financially well-off can be difficult. They have the money to take you to court and to use the best attorneys and support that they can afford. You may not be in that same position.

What can you do to level the playing field?

If you’re divorcing someone who has the money to make your life difficult, you should carefully consider if you can negotiate with them to avoid conflict. If you rely on your spouse for an income, it’s equally important to make sure you work out your budget in advance and ask for what you need knowing your limits.

Unfortunately, some people find themselves in a situation where they feel that the other parent may leave with their children unexpectedly. They may already have frequent arguments about the custody schedule or be dealing with threats of fleeing or withholding custody.

It’s important for parents to be able to take steps to prevent a parental abduction. One of those possible steps could be to use a tracking app to see where your children are. Can you use it though? Is it legal to do so?

Location devices and your kids

It is pretty typical for kids to have location devices in today’s world. Smartphones and smartwatches have location settings and parental controls that may allow you to track your child’s location if necessary. Of course, this device has to be with them, or else it won’t be any help.