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Special Purpose Entities, Including Variable Interest Entities - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $) |  |  | 3 Months Ended |  |  |  |  |  |
--- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | ---
Mar. 31, 2014 | Dec. 31, 2013 | Mar. 31, 2013 Predecessor Ambac [Member] | Mar. 31, 2014 Asset-Backed Securities and Utility Obligations [Member] | Mar. 31, 2014 Sponsored Variable Interest Entities [Member] Transactions | Dec. 31, 2013 Sponsored Variable Interest Entities [Member] | Mar. 31, 2014 Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary [Member] | Mar. 31, 2014 Variable Interest Entities [Member] | Dec. 31, 2013 Variable Interest Entities [Member] | Mar. 31, 2014 Consolidated Entities [Member] Entity | Dec. 31, 2013 Consolidated Entities [Member] Entity
Variable Interest Entities [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Secured Debt |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 0 |  |  |  |
Securities fair value | 236,674,000 | 240,150,000 |  |  |  |  |  | 236,674,000 | 240,150,000 |  |
Fair value of special purpose entities | 13,122,000 | 13,384,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of individual transactions with special purpose entities |  |  |  |  | 15 |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of transactions outstanding with special purpose entities |  |  |  |  | 3 |  |  |  |  |  |
Total principal amount of debt outstanding |  |  |  |  | 461,355,000 | 461,355,000 |  |  |  |  |
Weighted average life |  |  |  | 7 years 9 months 12 days |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Average rating of assets held by sponsored special purpose entities |  |  |  | BBB |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Claims on insurance policies issued to these entities |  |  | 1,455,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of consolidated Variable Interest Entities |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 18 | 18
Consolidated VIE assets | 15,832,337,000 | 15,988,697,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Consolidated VIE liabilities | $ 15,727,102,000 | $ 15,872,770,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |

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- Definition Amounts recovered in respect of previously paid claims on insurance policies issued to Ambac's sponsored special purpose entities. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ambc_AmountsRecoveredOnPreviouslyPaidClaimsRelatedToSponsoredSpecialPurposeEntities
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Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

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- Definition The total principal amount of outstanding debt issued by Ambac's sponsored medium term note special purpose entities. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ambc_FaceAmountOfDebtOutstandingIssuedBySponsoredSpecialPurposeEntities
Namespace Prefix: | ambc_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Number of consolidated variable interest entities. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ambc_NumberOfConsolidatedVariableInterestEntities
Namespace Prefix: | ambc_
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Balance Type: | na
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- Definition The number of asset transfer transactions executed with Ambac's sponsored medium term note special purpose entities that are still outstanding at the reporting date. + References No definition available. + Details
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Balance Type: | na
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- Definition The number of asset transfer transactions executed with Ambac's sponsored medium term note special purpose entities since the inception of those entities. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition Fair Value of securities held to collateralize and fund repayment of debt issued through a resecuritization transaction. + References No definition available. + Details
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Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
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- Definition The weighted average remaining life of assets held by Ambac's sponsored medium term note special purpose entities at the reporting date. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition The weighted average credit rating of assets held by Ambac's sponsored medium term note special purpose entities at the reporting date. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition Fair value portion of investments accounted under the equity method. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 323 -SubTopic 10 -Section 25 -Paragraph 2 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6903542&loc=d3e32014-111567 + Details
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- Definition Carrying value as of the balance sheet date, including the current and noncurrent portions, of collateralized debt obligations (with maturities initially due after one year or beyond the operating cycle, if longer). Such obligations include mortgage loans, chattel loans, and any other borrowings secured by assets of the borrower. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 942 -SubTopic 210 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03.16) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6876686&loc=d3e534808-122878 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 03 -Paragraph 16 -Article 9 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 02 -Paragraph 19, 20, 22 -Article 5 Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 944 -SubTopic 210 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03.16) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879938&loc=d3e572229-122910 + Details
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- Definition The carrying amount of the consolidated Variable Interest Entity's assets included in the reporting entity's statement of financial position. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 810 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 3 -Subparagraph (bb) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=28200181&loc=d3e5710-111685 + Details
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- Definition The carrying amount of the consolidated Variable Interest Entity's liabilities included in the reporting entity's statement of financial position. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 810 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 3 -Subparagraph (bb) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=28200181&loc=d3e5710-111685 + Details
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- Details
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