The line of succession and the succession to the throne were regulated in 1606 by a family covenant. Succession by primogeniture, or the right of the first-born, was introduced at that time. In this line of succession, the family property of the House and further privileges (e.g., the title, the archives of the House and the collections) are inherited by the first-born male of the oldest family line. The first-born son of the Reigning Prince achieves by birth the right of succession to the throne for himself and for his male descendants.

The family covenant was later supplemented by several additional "House laws". In 1993, the House laws were consolidated into a new unitary Law on the Princely House, which was published on 6 December 1993 (Liechtenstein Legal Gazette 1993 No 100).
Article 3 of the Constitution of Liechtenstein refers to the Law on the Princely House with respect to the succession to the throne.

The succession to the throne is
governed by a family covenant