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Fresh Start Financial Statement Reporting - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2013
Apr. 30, 2013
Fresh-Start Adjustment [Line Items]    
Enterprise value $ 185,000,000 $ 185,000,000
Reorganization value, methodology and assumptions The enterprise value was based on a discounted cash flow analysis using estimates of after-tax free cash flows through 2045. The terminal date of 2045 was used as the expected run-off of Ambac Assurance’s insurance operations will be substantially completed by 2045. The valuation uses a range of discount rates between 12% and 17%, which considered the cost of capital associated with a set of comparable insurance holding companies, indicative ranges suggested by third parties during Ambac’s 2008 capital raise process and discussions with financial professionals knowledgeable about the insurance industry.  
Allocated amount of Net Operating Loss (NOL) 3,650,000,000  
Tax credits carried forward 60,000,000  
Upfront cash 30,000,000  
Other operating payments 15,000,000  
Following March 2017, additional operating expenses 4,000,000  
Expiry year of securities 2030  
Life of securities 20 years  
5.1% Notes Due 2045 [Member]
    
Fresh-Start Adjustment [Line Items]    
Junior surplus notes 350,000,000  
Interest on junior surplus notes 5.10%  
Allocated NOL 1 [Member]
    
Fresh-Start Adjustment [Line Items]    
Allocated amount of Net Operating Loss (NOL) 479,000,000  
Percentage of notional federal tax liability 15.00%  
Allocated NOL 2 [Member]
    
Fresh-Start Adjustment [Line Items]    
Allocated amount of Net Operating Loss (NOL) 1,057,000,000  
Percentage of notional federal tax liability 40.00%  
Allocated NOL 3 [Member]
    
Fresh-Start Adjustment [Line Items]    
Allocated amount of Net Operating Loss (NOL) 1,057,000,000  
Percentage of notional federal tax liability 10.00%  
Allocated NOL 4 [Member]
    
Fresh-Start Adjustment [Line Items]    
Allocated amount of Net Operating Loss (NOL) 1,057,000,000  
Percentage of notional federal tax liability 15.00%  
Reorganization Items [Member]
    
Fresh-Start Adjustment [Line Items]    
Reimbursement of operating expenses 5,000,000  
Minimum [Member]
    
Fresh-Start Adjustment [Line Items]    
Discount rate 12.00%  
Capital investment 135,000,000  
Rate of return on investment 6.00%  
Discount rate of investment 25.00%  
Maximum [Member]
    
Fresh-Start Adjustment [Line Items]    
Discount rate 17.00%  
Capital investment $ 190,000,000  
Rate of return on investment 8.00%  
Discount rate of investment 35.00%