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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
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.

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X

- 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

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- Definition

This item represents the aggregate fair value of investments in debt and equity securities categorized neither as held-to-maturity nor trading securities that have been in a continuous unrealized loss position for less than twelve months.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 320

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 7

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27724398&loc=d3e27337-111563



Reference 2: 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

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- Definition

This item represents the aggregate fair value of investments in debt and equity securities categorized neither as held-to-maturity nor trading securities that have been in a continuous unrealized loss position for twelve months or longer.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 320

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 7

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27724398&loc=d3e27337-111563



Reference 2: 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

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