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Special Purpose Entities, Including Variable Interest Entities - Supplemental Information About Loans Held as Assets and Long-Term Debt Associated with Consolidated Variable Interest Entities (Detail) (Variable interest entity [Member], USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified | Mar. 31, 2013 | Dec. 31, 2012
--- | --- | ---
Variable interest entity [Member] |  |
Variable Interest Entities [Line Items] |  |
Loans, Estimated fair value | $ 14,116,811 | $ 15,359,073
Long-term debt, Estimated fair value | 13,996,531 | 15,200,538
Loans, Unpaid principal balance | 12,522,933 | 13,995,141
Long-term debt, Unpaid principal balance | $ 13,893,522 | $ 15,460,530

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- Definition This represents the amount of principal outstanding on loans receivable that are presented on the balance sheet at fair value, whether such presentation is as a separate caption or parenthetical disclosure. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ambc_LoansUnpaidPrincipalBalance
Namespace Prefix: | ambc_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

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- Definition This represents the amount of principal outstanding on long-term debt that is presented on the balance sheet at fair value, whether such presentation is as a separate caption or parenthetical disclosure. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ambc_LongTermDebtUnpaidPrincipalBalance
Namespace Prefix: | ambc_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

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- Details
Name: | ambc_VariableInterestEntitiesLineItems
Namespace Prefix: | ambc_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

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- Definition This element represents the portion of the balance sheet assertion valued at fair value by the entity whether such amount is presented as a separate caption or as a parenthetical disclosure. Additionally, this element may be used in connection with the fair value disclosures required in the footnote disclosures to the financial statements. The element may be used in both the balance sheet and disclosure in the same submission. This item represents loan receivable as presented on the statement of financial position which may include mortgage loans held for investment, finance receivables held for investment, policy loans on insurance contracts, or any other loans which are due the Company as of the balance sheet date. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 310 -SubTopic 10 -Glossary Loan -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6517073 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 114 -Paragraph 4 -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
Name: | us-gaap_LoansReceivableFairValueDisclosure
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

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- Definition The fair value amount of long-term debt whether such amount is presented as a separate caption or as a parenthetical disclosure. Additionally, this element may be used in connection with the fair value disclosures required in the footnote disclosures to the financial statements. The element may be used in both the balance sheet and disclosure in the same submission. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_LongTermDebtFairValue
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant