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Financial Guarantee Insurance Contracts - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified | 12 Months Ended |  | 8 Months Ended |  | 8 Months Ended | 4 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended
--- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | ---
Dec. 31, 2013 | Dec. 31, 2012 | Dec. 31, 2013 Successor Ambac [Member] | Apr. 30, 2013 Successor Ambac [Member] | Dec. 31, 2013 Successor Ambac [Member] Insurance Intangible Asset [Member] | Apr. 30, 2013 Predecessor Ambac [Member] | Dec. 31, 2012 Predecessor Ambac [Member] | Dec. 31, 2013 Loss Reserves [Member] | Dec. 31, 2012 Loss Reserves [Member]
Insurance [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Total net loss expense reserves | $ 110,551 | $ 136,790 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Reinsurance recoveries of losses included in losses and loss expenses |  |  | (14,106) |  |  | 3,889 | 6,996 |  |
Weighted average risk-free rate to discount loss reserve |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 3.20% | 1.60%
Losses and loss expense reserves ceded to reinsurers | 122,357 | 147,409 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Subrogation recoveries | 2,206,598 | 2,523,225 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Subrogation recoveries, net of reinsurance | 2,183,652 | 2,497,233 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Assumed par outstanding amount to reinsurers | 248,225 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Deferred ceded premiums and reinsurance recoverables on losses | 266,278 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Ceded reinsurance payables | 85,424 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Letters of credit | 153,129 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Aggregate amount of insured par ceded to reinsurers | 18,598,367 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Amount of gross par outstanding by reinsurer | 16,617,069 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Ceded Principal Outstanding of cedant's largest reinsurer as a percentage of cedant's Gross Outstanding Principal | 8.40% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Intangible amortization expense |  |  | 99,658 |  | 99,658 |  |  |  |
Insurance intangible asset |  |  | 1,597,965 | 1,658,972 | 1,597,965 |  |  |  |
Accumulated amortization on insurance intangible asset |  |  |  |  | $ 100,767 |  |  |  |

X
- Definition Accumulated Amortization on Intangible Asset + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ambc_AccumulatedAmortizationOnIntangibleAsset
Namespace Prefix: | ambc_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Amount of insured par outstanding ceded to reinsurer. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ambc_AmountOfInsuredParOutstandingCededToReinsurer
Namespace Prefix: | ambc_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition This element represents the reduction to gross claim liability for subrogation on insured RMBS financial obligations with credit deterioration. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ambc_BalanceOfGrossRmbsSubrogationRecoveries
Namespace Prefix: | ambc_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition This element represents the reduction to gross claim liability for subrogation on insured RMBS financial obligations with credit deterioration, net of reinsurance. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ambc_BalanceOfRmbsSubrogationRecoveriesNetOfReinsurance
Namespace Prefix: | ambc_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Ceded Principal Outstanding Major Reinsurer Percentage. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ambc_CededPrincipalOutstandingMajorReinsurerPercentage
Namespace Prefix: | ambc_
Data Type: | num:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Includes the unexpired portion of financial guarantee premiums ceded on policies as of the balance sheet date and reinsurance recoverables on claims or claim adjustment expense paid by the ceding insurer. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ambc_DeferredCededPremiumsAndReinsuranceRecoverables
Namespace Prefix: | ambc_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Financial Guarantee Gross Outstanding Principal Assumed from third parties. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ambc_FinancialGuaranteeGrossOutstandingPrincipalAssumedFromThirdParties
Namespace Prefix: | ambc_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Financial Guarantee Outstanding Principal Ceded to third parties. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ambc_FinancialGuaranteeOutstandingPrincipalCededToThirdParties
Namespace Prefix: | ambc_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

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

X
- Definition The known and estimated amount recoverable as of the balance sheet date from reinsurers for claims paid or incurred by the ceding insurer. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ambc_LossReservesCededToReinsurers
Namespace Prefix: | ambc_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Loss adjustment expense reserves, net of reinsurance, represent the costs estimated to be incurred in the settlement of unpaid claims. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ambc_ReserveForLossAdjustmentExpenses
Namespace Prefix: | ambc_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition The aggregate expense charged against earnings to allocate the cost of intangible assets (nonphysical assets not used in production) in a systematic and rational manner to the periods expected to benefit from such assets. As a noncash expense, this element is added back to net income when calculating cash provided by or used in operations using the indirect method. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 230 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 28 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=31042434&loc=d3e3602-108585 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 350 -SubTopic 30 -Section 45 -Paragraph 2 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6388964&loc=d3e16225-109274 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 350 -SubTopic 30 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (a)(2) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26713463&loc=d3e16323-109275 + Details
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Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The consideration due to the assuming enterprise as of the balance sheet date under the terms of the reinsurance contract in exchange for the right to receive reimbursement from such entity for covered claims and expenses. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 944 -SubTopic 210 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03.13(c)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879938&loc=d3e572229-122910 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 03 -Paragraph 13 -Subparagraph c -Article 7 + Details
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Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition This element represents the weighted average risk free rate used to discount the claim liability related to financial guarantee insurance contracts. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 944 -SubTopic 40 -Section 50 -Paragraph 9 -Subparagraph (a)(1) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6933314&loc=SL5749324-161292 + Details
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Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

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- Definition Sum of the carrying amounts of all intangible assets, excluding goodwill, as of the balance sheet date, net of accumulated amortization and impairment charges. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 350 -SubTopic 30 -Section 45 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6388964&loc=d3e16212-109274 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 350 -SubTopic 30 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph ((a)(1),(b)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26713463&loc=d3e16323-109275 + Details
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Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition The total amount of the contingent obligation under letters of credit outstanding as of the reporting date. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_LettersOfCreditOutstandingAmount
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Amount of reduction of provision for policy benefits and costs incurred for policies ceded. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 944 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 3 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6480758&loc=d3e6811-158387 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_ReinsuranceEffectOnClaimsAndBenefitsIncurredAmountCeded
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration