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Derivative Instruments - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2012 | Dec. 31, 2011
Derivative Instruments [Line Items] |  |
Value of right to reclaim cash collateral and posted margin, recorded in "Other assets" | $ 5,472 | $ 47,421
Value of obligation to return cash collateral, recorded in "Other liabilities" | 0 | 0
Number of outstanding credit derivative transactions include ratings based collateral-posting triggers | None of our outstanding credit derivative transactions |
Aggregate fair value of all derivative instruments linked to Ambac's own credit risk in a net liability position | 180,113 | 276,043
Fair value of posted assets as collateral | 271,251 | 310,951
Call Option on Long-Term Debt [Member] |  |
Derivative Instruments [Line Items] |  |
Gains in change in fair value of the call options | 100,710 | 6,055
Amount of surplus notes that may be repurchased under stand-alone derivatives | 500,000 | 500,000
Credit derivatives [Member] |  |
Derivative Instruments [Line Items] |  |
Number of credit derivative contracts | 4 |
Net liability fair value of credit derivative contracts | 67,219 | 46,056
Notional value of credit derivative contracts | 291,690 | 290,007
CLO [Member] |  |
Derivative Instruments [Line Items] |  |
Gross principal notional outstanding, credit derivatives not written on pay-as-you-go basis | 88,540 |
Number of credit derivatives transactions not written on a pay-as-you-go basis | 4 |
Net credit derivative liabilities not written on pay-as-you-go basis at fair value | $ 130 |

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- Definition Amount of surplus notes that may be repurchased under stand-alone derivatives. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Details
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- Definition Net liability fair value of credit derivatives transactions not written on a pay as you go basis. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition Notional amount of credit derivatives transactions not written on a pay-as-you-go basis. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition Notional principal outstanding of Credit Derivative Contracts on adversely classified credit listing. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition Number of Credit Derivative Contracts on adversely classified credit listing. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition Number of credit derivatives transactions not written on a pay as you go basis. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition The aggregate fair value of assets that are already posted, at the end of the reporting period, as collateral for derivative instruments with credit-risk-related contingent features. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 133 -Paragraph 44D -Subparagraph c -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy. Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 815 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 4H -Subparagraph (d) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=7476318&loc=SL5624258-113959 + Details
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- Definition The amount of the obligation to return cash collateral under master netting arrangements that have not been offset against net derivative instrument positions. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 815 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 8 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=7476318&loc=d3e41678-113959 + Details
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- Definition The amount of the right to reclaim cash collateral under master netting arrangements that have not been offset against net derivative instrument positions. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 815 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 8 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=7476318&loc=d3e41678-113959 + Details
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- Definition Description of the circumstances in which credit-risk-related contingent features could be triggered in derivative instruments that are in a net liability position at the end of the reporting period. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 815 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 4H -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=7476318&loc=SL5624258-113959 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 133 -Paragraph 44D -Subparagraph a -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy. + Details
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- Definition The amount of net gains and losses recognized in income during the period on derivative instruments designated and qualifying as hedging instruments in fair value hedges and related hedged items designated and qualifying in fair value hedges, on derivative instruments designated and qualifying as hedging instruments in cash flow hedges, and on derivative instruments not designated as hedging instruments. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 815 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 4C -Subparagraph (a),(c),(d),(e) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=7476318&loc=SL5624171-113959 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 133 -Paragraph 205G -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy. Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 133 -Paragraph 44C -Subparagraph b -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy. Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 815 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 4A -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=7476318&loc=SL5618551-113959 + Details
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- Definition Fair value of derivative asset, presented on a gross basis even when the derivative instrument is subject to master netting arrangements and qualifies for net presentation in the statement of financial position. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 133 -Paragraph 205G -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy. Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 133 -Paragraph 44C -Subparagraph a -Clause 1 -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy. Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 815 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 4B -Subparagraph (a),(c) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=7476318&loc=SL5624163-113959 + Details
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- Definition The aggregate fair value amounts of derivative instruments that contain credit-risk-related contingent features that are in a net liability position at the end of the reporting period. For nonderivative instruments that are designated and qualify as hedging instruments, the fair value amounts are the carrying value of the nonderivative hedging instrument, including the adjustment for the foreign currency transaction gain (loss) on that instrument. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 815 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 4H -Subparagraph (c) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=7476318&loc=SL5624258-113959 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 133 -Paragraph 44D -Subparagraph b -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy. + Details
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