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Financial Guarantee Insurance Contracts - Summary of Information Related to Policies Currently Included in Ambac's Loss Reserves or Subrogation Recoverable (Parenthetical) (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013 Successor Ambac [Member]	Apr. 30, 2013 Successor Ambac [Member]	Apr. 30, 2013 Predecessor Ambac [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Predecessor Ambac [Member]
Schedule of Insured Financial Obligations with Credit Deterioration [Line Items]
Losses and loss expense reserve	$ 5,884,660	$ 6,106,345	$ 6,106,345	$ 6,619,486
Losses and loss expense reserves included in subrogation recoverable	1,971,883			2,611,430
Subrogation recoverable	(484,605)	(533,673)	(533,673)	(497,346)
Subrogation recoveries included in subrogation recoverable	1,156,027			782,575
Liability for Claims	$ 5,400,055			$ 6,122,140

X

- Definition

Gross potential subrogation recoveries included in subrogation recoverable asset on the balance sheet. The subrogation recoverable asset is established as the excess of the gross potential subrogation recoveries over the gross potential losses.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

X

- Definition

Reduction to loss and loss expense reserves on the balance sheet for subrogation recoverables where loss and loss adjustment expenses are greater than the related subrogation recoverable.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	ambc_
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X

- Definition

The amount needed to reflect the estimated ultimate cost of settling claims relating to insured events that have occurred on or before the balance sheet date, whether or not reported to the insurer at that date.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 944

-SubTopic 40

-Section 50

-Paragraph 3

-Subparagraph (a),(b),(c)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6482485&loc=d3e14764-158437

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

X

- Definition

The amount needed to reflect the estimated ultimate cost of settling claims relating to financial default insured events that have occurred on or before a particular date (ordinarily, the balance sheet date) and the amount needed to provide for the estimated ultimate cost required to investigate and settle claims relating to insured events that have occurred on or before a particular date (ordinarily, the balance sheet date), whether or not reported to the insurer at that date.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 944

-SubTopic 20

-Section 50

-Paragraph 7

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6933001&loc=SL5747862-161289



Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 944

-SubTopic 40

-Section 50

-Paragraph 9

-Subparagraph (a)(5)(vii)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6933314&loc=SL5749324-161292

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X

- Definition

The estimated amount as of the balance sheet date to be received by an insurer from the sale of property (usually damaged) on which the insurer has paid a total claim to the insured and has obtained title to the property and the right of an insurer to pursue any course of recovery of damages, in its name or in the name of the policyholder, against a third party who is liable for costs relating to an insured event that have been paid by the insurer. Estimated salvage and subrogation is generally deducted from the liability for unpaid claims.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 944

-SubTopic 40

-Section 30

-Paragraph 2

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6482241&loc=d3e13779-158432



Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 944

-SubTopic 40

-Section 30

-Paragraph 3

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6482241&loc=d3e13783-158432

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