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Investments - Summary of Gross Unrealized Losses and Fair Values of Ambac's Available-for-Sale Investments (Detail) (Successor Ambac [Member], USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified | Sep. 30, 2014 | Dec. 31, 2013
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Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items] |  |
Less than 12 Months, Fair Value | $ 1,025,619 | $ 2,920,966
Less than 12 Months, Gross Unrealized Loss | 15,198 | 116,634
12 Months or More, Fair Value | 425,805 |
Available For Sale Securities Continuous Unrealized Loss Position 12 Months Or Longer Aggregate Losses Accumulated In Investments | 16,287 |
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Fair Value | 1,451,424 |
Available For Sale Securities Gross Unrealized Loss Accumulated In Investments | 31,485 | 116,634
Residential Mortgage-Backed Securities [Member] |  |
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items] |  |
Available For Sale Securities Gross Unrealized Loss Accumulated In Investments | 8,608 |
Fixed Income Securities [Member] |  |
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items] |  |
Less than 12 Months, Fair Value |  | 2,920,966
Less than 12 Months, Gross Unrealized Loss |  | 116,634
Available For Sale Securities Gross Unrealized Loss Accumulated In Investments | 31,193 | 116,634
Fixed Income Securities [Member] | Municipal Bonds [Member] |  |
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items] |  |
Less than 12 Months, Fair Value |  | 437,683
Less than 12 Months, Gross Unrealized Loss |  | 28,427
Available For Sale Securities Gross Unrealized Loss Accumulated In Investments | 9,340 | 28,427
Fixed Income Securities [Member] | Corporate Obligations [Member] |  |
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items] |  |
Less than 12 Months, Fair Value |  | 877,356
Less than 12 Months, Gross Unrealized Loss |  | 23,894
Available For Sale Securities Gross Unrealized Loss Accumulated In Investments | 9,549 | 23,894
Fixed Income Securities [Member] | Foreign Obligations [Member] |  |
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items] |  |
Less than 12 Months, Fair Value |  | 117,905
Less than 12 Months, Gross Unrealized Loss |  | 6,901
Fixed Income Securities [Member] | U.S. Government Obligations [Member] |  |
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items] |  |
Less than 12 Months, Fair Value |  | 70,044
Less than 12 Months, Gross Unrealized Loss |  | 2,176
Available For Sale Securities Gross Unrealized Loss Accumulated In Investments | 952 | 2,176
Fixed Income Securities [Member] | U.S. Agency Obligations [Member] |  |
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items] |  |
Less than 12 Months, Fair Value |  | 5,834
Less than 12 Months, Gross Unrealized Loss |  | 70
Available For Sale Securities Gross Unrealized Loss Accumulated In Investments | 44 | 70
Fixed Income Securities [Member] | Residential Mortgage-Backed Securities [Member] |  |
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items] |  |
Less than 12 Months, Fair Value |  | 644,502
Less than 12 Months, Gross Unrealized Loss |  | 18,105
Available For Sale Securities Gross Unrealized Loss Accumulated In Investments | 8,608 | 18,105
Fixed Income Securities [Member] | Collateralized Debt Obligations [Member] |  |
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items] |  |
Less than 12 Months, Fair Value |  | 137,685
Less than 12 Months, Gross Unrealized Loss |  | 463
Available For Sale Securities Gross Unrealized Loss Accumulated In Investments | 75 | 463
Fixed Income Securities [Member] | Other Asset-Backed Securities [Member] |  |
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items] |  |
Less than 12 Months, Fair Value |  | 629,957
Less than 12 Months, Gross Unrealized Loss |  | 36,598
Available For Sale Securities Gross Unrealized Loss Accumulated In Investments | 75 | 36,598
Short-term Investments [Member] |  |
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items] |  |
Less than 12 Months, Fair Value |  | 0
Less than 12 Months, Gross Unrealized Loss |  | 0
Securities Not Pledged as Collateral [Member] |  |
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items] |  |
Less than 12 Months, Fair Value | 961,588 |
Less than 12 Months, Gross Unrealized Loss | 14,906 |
12 Months or More, Fair Value | 425,805 |
Available For Sale Securities Continuous Unrealized Loss Position 12 Months Or Longer Aggregate Losses Accumulated In Investments | 16,287 |
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Fair Value | 1,387,393 |
Available For Sale Securities Gross Unrealized Loss Accumulated In Investments | 31,193 |
Securities Not Pledged as Collateral [Member] | Fixed Income Securities [Member] |  |
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items] |  |
Less than 12 Months, Fair Value | 960,220 |
Less than 12 Months, Gross Unrealized Loss | 14,906 |
12 Months or More, Fair Value | 425,805 |
Available For Sale Securities Continuous Unrealized Loss Position 12 Months Or Longer Aggregate Losses Accumulated In Investments | 16,287 |
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Fair Value | 1,386,025 |
Available For Sale Securities Gross Unrealized Loss Accumulated In Investments | 31,193 |
Securities Not Pledged as Collateral [Member] | Fixed Income Securities [Member] | Municipal Bonds [Member] |  |
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items] |  |
Less than 12 Months, Fair Value | 67,274 |
Less than 12 Months, Gross Unrealized Loss | 1,369 |
12 Months or More, Fair Value | 155,408 |
Available For Sale Securities Continuous Unrealized Loss Position 12 Months Or Longer Aggregate Losses Accumulated In Investments | 7,971 |
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Fair Value | 222,682 |
Available For Sale Securities Gross Unrealized Loss Accumulated In Investments | 9,340 |
Securities Not Pledged as Collateral [Member] | Fixed Income Securities [Member] | Corporate Obligations [Member] |  |
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items] |  |
Less than 12 Months, Fair Value | 474,889 |
Less than 12 Months, Gross Unrealized Loss | 3,419 |
12 Months or More, Fair Value | 209,911 |
Available For Sale Securities Continuous Unrealized Loss Position 12 Months Or Longer Aggregate Losses Accumulated In Investments | 6,130 |
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Fair Value | 684,800 |
Available For Sale Securities Gross Unrealized Loss Accumulated In Investments | 9,549 |
Securities Not Pledged as Collateral [Member] | Fixed Income Securities [Member] | Foreign Obligations [Member] |  |
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items] |  |
Less than 12 Months, Fair Value | 32,642 |
Less than 12 Months, Gross Unrealized Loss | 1,109 |
12 Months or More, Fair Value | 38,043 |
Available For Sale Securities Continuous Unrealized Loss Position 12 Months Or Longer Aggregate Losses Accumulated In Investments | 1,441 |
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Fair Value | 70,685 |
Available For Sale Securities Gross Unrealized Loss Accumulated In Investments | 2,550 |
Securities Not Pledged as Collateral [Member] | Fixed Income Securities [Member] | U.S. Government Obligations [Member] |  |
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items] |  |
Less than 12 Months, Fair Value | 9,302 |
Less than 12 Months, Gross Unrealized Loss | 351 |
12 Months or More, Fair Value | 14,667 |
Available For Sale Securities Continuous Unrealized Loss Position 12 Months Or Longer Aggregate Losses Accumulated In Investments | 601 |
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Fair Value | 23,969 |
Available For Sale Securities Gross Unrealized Loss Accumulated In Investments | 952 |
Securities Not Pledged as Collateral [Member] | Fixed Income Securities [Member] | U.S. Agency Obligations [Member] |  |
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items] |  |
Less than 12 Months, Fair Value | 0 |
Less than 12 Months, Gross Unrealized Loss | 0 |
12 Months or More, Fair Value | 4,413 |
Available For Sale Securities Continuous Unrealized Loss Position 12 Months Or Longer Aggregate Losses Accumulated In Investments | 44 |
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Fair Value | 4,413 |
Available For Sale Securities Gross Unrealized Loss Accumulated In Investments | 44 |
Securities Not Pledged as Collateral [Member] | Fixed Income Securities [Member] | Residential Mortgage-Backed Securities [Member] |  |
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items] |  |
Less than 12 Months, Fair Value | 200,916 |
Less than 12 Months, Gross Unrealized Loss | 8,508 |
12 Months or More, Fair Value | 3,363 |
Available For Sale Securities Continuous Unrealized Loss Position 12 Months Or Longer Aggregate Losses Accumulated In Investments | 100 |
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Fair Value | 204,279 |
Available For Sale Securities Gross Unrealized Loss Accumulated In Investments | 8,608 |
Securities Not Pledged as Collateral [Member] | Fixed Income Securities [Member] | Collateralized Debt Obligations [Member] |  |
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items] |  |
Less than 12 Months, Fair Value | 5,442 |
Less than 12 Months, Gross Unrealized Loss | 75 |
12 Months or More, Fair Value | 0 |
Available For Sale Securities Continuous Unrealized Loss Position 12 Months Or Longer Aggregate Losses Accumulated In Investments | 0 |
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Fair Value | 5,442 |
Available For Sale Securities Gross Unrealized Loss Accumulated In Investments | 75 |
Securities Not Pledged as Collateral [Member] | Fixed Income Securities [Member] | Other Asset-Backed Securities [Member] |  |
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items] |  |
Less than 12 Months, Fair Value | 169,755 |
Less than 12 Months, Gross Unrealized Loss | 75 |
12 Months or More, Fair Value | 0 |
Available For Sale Securities Continuous Unrealized Loss Position 12 Months Or Longer Aggregate Losses Accumulated In Investments | 0 |
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Fair Value | 169,755 |
Available For Sale Securities Gross Unrealized Loss Accumulated In Investments | 75 |
Securities Not Pledged as Collateral [Member] | Short-term Investments [Member] |  |
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items] |  |
Less than 12 Months, Fair Value | 1,368 |
Less than 12 Months, Gross Unrealized Loss | 0 |
12 Months or More, Fair Value | 0 |
Available For Sale Securities Continuous Unrealized Loss Position 12 Months Or Longer Aggregate Losses Accumulated In Investments | 0 |
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Fair Value | 1,368 |
Available For Sale Securities Gross Unrealized Loss Accumulated In Investments | 0 |
Securities Pledged as Collateral [Member] | Fixed Income Securities [Member] |  |
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items] |  |
Less than 12 Months, Fair Value | 64,031 |
Less than 12 Months, Gross Unrealized Loss | 292 |
12 Months or More, Fair Value | 0 |
Available For Sale Securities Continuous Unrealized Loss Position 12 Months Or Longer Aggregate Losses Accumulated In Investments | 0 |
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Fair Value | 64,031 |
Available For Sale Securities Gross Unrealized Loss Accumulated In Investments | 292 | 0
Securities Pledged as Collateral [Member] | Fixed Income Securities [Member] | U.S. Government Obligations [Member] |  |
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items] |  |
Less than 12 Months, Fair Value | 64,031 |
Less than 12 Months, Gross Unrealized Loss | 292 |
12 Months or More, Fair Value | 0 |
Available For Sale Securities Continuous Unrealized Loss Position 12 Months Or Longer Aggregate Losses Accumulated In Investments | 0 |
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Fair Value | 64,031 |
Available For Sale Securities Gross Unrealized Loss Accumulated In Investments | $ 292 | $ 0

X
- Definition Amount of accumulated pre-tax unrealized loss on investments in available-for-sale securities that have been in a loss position for twelve months or longer impacting investments. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition Amount of accumulated pre-tax unrealized loss on investments in available-for-sale securities that have been in a loss position for less than twelve months impacting investments. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition Amount of accumulated pre-tax unrealized loss before deducting pre-tax unrealized gain on investments in available-for-sale securities impacting investments. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition This item represents the aggregate fair value of investments in debt and equity securities in an unrealized loss position which are categorized neither as held-to-maturity nor trading securities. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 320 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 6 -Subparagraph (a)(1) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27724398&loc=d3e27290-111563 + Details
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