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Basis of Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	0 Months Ended	4 Months Ended	8 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Apr. 30, 2013	Apr. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013 Segment	Dec. 31, 2012
Reorganization Items [Line Items]
Fresh Start Reporting Date				Apr. 30, 2013
Goodwill impairment test				October 1st of each year
Number of reporting units				2
Weighted average risk-free rate				3.00%	2.60%
Weighted average period of future premiums				9 years 7 months 6 days	9 years 7 months 6 days
Transactions with non-investment grade internal ratings				44.00%	40.00%
Non-investment grade RMBS on total premium receivables				7.00%	7.00%
Percentage of student loan transactions on total premium receivables				7.00%	9.00%
Percentage related to asset-backed transaction				17.00%	12.00%
Premium receivables relating to a non-investment obligation deemed uncollectible			$ 15,262,000	$ 15,262,000	$ 118,961,000
Weighted-average amortization period	16 years			9 years 4 months 24 days
Intangible assets at fair value	164,520,000	164,520,000
Amortization of deferred acquisition costs		6,480,000			25,465,000
Fair value deferred acquisition costs	0	0
Fair values declined below amortized cost percentage				20.00%
Percentage of permitted policy claim				25.00%
Postretirement benefits description				Effective August 1, 2005, new employees were not eligible for postretirement benefits.
Maximum common shares may be used for awards			4,000,000	4,000,000
Future grant equity shares under the Equity Plan			3,779,146	3,779,146
Pre-tax (losses) gains from foreign exchange items		8,694,000	(12,372,000)		(7,894,000)
Risk Classification - Class II [Member]
Reorganization Items [Line Items]
Percentage of monetary default			10.00%	10.00%
Successor Ambac [Member]
Reorganization Items [Line Items]
Accelerated premium revenue for retired obligations			56,541,000
Predecessor Ambac [Member]
Reorganization Items [Line Items]
Accelerated premium revenue for retired obligations		36,433,000			127,628,000
Ambac Financial Group, Inc Parent Company Only [Member]
Reorganization Items [Line Items]
Discontinued Liabilities subject to compromise	239,468,000	239,468,000
Liabilities subject to compromise contractual interest on debt		27,572,000			85,371,000
Maximum [Member]
Reorganization Items [Line Items]
Voting shares of the emerging entity			50.00%	50.00%
Past due premiums on policies insuring non-investment grade obligations amount				$ 500,000
Fair values declined below amortized cost percentage				20.00%
Estimated useful lives of assets				5 years
Minimum [Member]
Reorganization Items [Line Items]
Fair values declined below amortized cost percentage				5.00%
Estimated useful lives of assets				3 years
Minimum [Member] | Risk Classification - Class III [Member]
Reorganization Items [Line Items]
Percentage of monetary default					50.00%

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