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Background and Business Description - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified | 3 Months Ended |  | 1 Months Ended | 3 Months Ended |  |  |  | 1 Months Ended |  | 1 Months Ended |  | 3 Months Ended
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Mar. 31, 2013 | Dec. 31, 2012 | Nov. 17, 2010 5.1% junior surplus notes, segregated account, due 2020 [Member] | Mar. 31, 2013 General unsecured claims [Member] | Mar. 31, 2013 Subordinated debt securities [Member] | May 01, 2013 Subsequent Event [Member] | May 01, 2013 Subsequent Event [Member] Bankruptcy [Member] | Apr. 30, 2013 Subsequent Event [Member] Internal Revenue Service [Member] | Apr. 30, 2013 Subsequent Event [Member] Segregated Account [Member] | May 01, 2013 Subsequent Event [Member] Senior debt securities [Member] Bankruptcy [Member] | May 01, 2013 Subsequent Event [Member] General unsecured claims [Member] | May 01, 2013 Subsequent Event [Member] General unsecured claims [Member] Bankruptcy [Member] | May 01, 2013 Subsequent Event [Member] Subordinated debt securities [Member] | May 01, 2013 Subsequent Event [Member] Subordinated debt securities [Member] Bankruptcy [Member] | Mar. 31, 2013 Ambac Assurance [Member]
Background And Basis Of Presentation [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Settlement disputes |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 1,900 | $ 100,000 |  |  |  |  |  |
Common stock, shares issued |  |  |  |  |  |  | 45,000,000 |  |  | 43,946,750 |  | 378,250 |  | 675,000 |
Common stock, value | 3,080 | 3,080 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 1,246,129 |  | 14,328 |  | 444,183 |
Shares reserved for future issuance |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 10,000 |  |  |  |
Warrants issued |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 42,424 |  | 5,004,714 |  |
Warrants issued exercise price |  |  |  | $ 16.67 | $ 16.67 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Amount transferred to escrow account |  |  |  |  |  | 30,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Segregated Account issue of junior surplus notes |  |  | 350,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Capital stock, shares authorized |  |  |  |  |  | 150,000,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Common stock, shares authorized |  |  |  |  |  | 130,000,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Common stock, par value |  |  |  |  |  | $ 0.01 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Preferred stock, shares authorized |  |  |  |  |  | 20,000,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Preferred stock, par value |  |  |  |  |  | $ 0.01 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Percentage of voting rights, common stock | 10.00% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Beneficial ownership | 5.00% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Existing beneficial ownership | 5.00% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net par exposure for policies allocated to the Segregated Account | 26,122,693 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Issuance of secured note to segregated account |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 2,000,000
Secured note maturity year |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 2050
Interest on the secured note accrues |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 4.50%
Available secured notes including capitalized interest | 358,568 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Minimum surplus amount | 100,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Insurance liabilities allocated to segregated account | 6,211,471 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Segregated Account's insurance liabilities | $ 159,451 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Percentage of permitted policy claim | 25.00% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Accrued rate of interest on outstanding policy obligations | 5.10% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |

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- Definition Junior Surplus Notes expected to be issued by the Segregated Account of Ambac Assurance to Ambac Financial Group upon Ambac Financial Group's emergence from bankruptcy. These Junior Surplus notes will be includable in surplus for statutory accounting purposes as prescribed or permitted by state laws and regulations. + References No definition available. + Details
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