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Dividends | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2012
Dividends [Abstract] |
Dividends | Dividends The following table presents shareholder dividends paid in total and per share:
| Year Ended December 31,
| 2012 |  | 2011 |  | 2010
| (Amounts in thousands, except per share data)
Total paid | $ | 134,105 |  |  | $ | 132,142 |  |  | $ | 129,863 |
Per share | $ | 2.4425 |  |  | $ | 2.41 |  |  | $ | 2.37 |
The Insurance Companies are subject to the financial capacity guidelines established by their domiciliary states. The payment of dividends from statutory unassigned surplus of the Insurance Companies is restricted, subject to certain statutory limitations. For 2013, the insurance subsidiaries of the Company are permitted to pay approximately $155 million in dividends to Mercury General without the prior approval of the DOI of domiciliary states. The above statutory regulations may have the effect of indirectly limiting the ability of the Company to pay shareholder dividends. During 2012, 2011, and 2010, the Insurance Companies paid the Company ordinary dividends of $145 million, $0, and $128 million, respectively, and extraordinary dividends of $0 million, $270 million, and $0, respectively. On February 1, 2013, the Board of Directors declared a $0.6125 quarterly dividend payable on March 28, 2013 to shareholders of record on March 14, 2013.

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- Definition This includes a summary of shareholder dividends paid in total and per share. Further, this includes disclosures relating to statutory restrictions on the payment of dividends as prescribed by state regulatory authorities. + References No definition available. + Details
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