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Derivative Instruments - Summarize Information by Major Category of CDS Contracts (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2014 Transactions | Dec. 31, 2013 Transactions
Summary of information by major category of CDS contracts |  |
Gross principal notional outstanding | $ 1,529,759 invest_DerivativeNotionalAmount | $ 2,776,103 invest_DerivativeNotionalAmount
Successor [Member] |  |
Summary of information by major category of CDS contracts |  |
Number of CDS transactions | 16 us-gaap_DerivativeNumberOfInstrumentsHeld / us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis = us-gaap_SuccessorMember | 20 us-gaap_DerivativeNumberOfInstrumentsHeld / us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis = us-gaap_SuccessorMember
Remaining expected weighted-average life of obligations (in years) | 4 years 1 month 12 days | 3 years 7 months 6 days
Gross principal notional outstanding | 1,529,759 invest_DerivativeNotionalAmount / us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis = us-gaap_SuccessorMember | 2,776,103 invest_DerivativeNotionalAmount / us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis = us-gaap_SuccessorMember
Successor [Member] | Credit Derivatives [Member] |  |
Summary of information by major category of CDS contracts |  |
Net derivative liabilities at fair value | 73,459 us-gaap_DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeLiabilityAmountNotOffsetAgainstCollateral / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis = ambc_CreditDerivativesMember / us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis = us-gaap_SuccessorMember | 94,322 us-gaap_DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeLiabilityAmountNotOffsetAgainstCollateral / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis = ambc_CreditDerivativesMember / us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis = us-gaap_SuccessorMember
CLO [Member] | Successor [Member] |  |
Summary of information by major category of CDS contracts |  |
Number of CDS transactions | 6 us-gaap_DerivativeNumberOfInstrumentsHeld / us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis = us-gaap_SuccessorMember / us-gaap_UnderlyingAssetClassAxis = us-gaap_CollateralizedLoanObligationsMember | 7 us-gaap_DerivativeNumberOfInstrumentsHeld / us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis = us-gaap_SuccessorMember / us-gaap_UnderlyingAssetClassAxis = us-gaap_CollateralizedLoanObligationsMember
Remaining expected weighted-average life of obligations (in years) | 1 year 9 months 18 days | 2 years 1 month 15 days
Gross principal notional outstanding | 549,923 invest_DerivativeNotionalAmount / us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis = us-gaap_SuccessorMember / us-gaap_UnderlyingAssetClassAxis = us-gaap_CollateralizedLoanObligationsMember | 1,337,737 invest_DerivativeNotionalAmount / us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis = us-gaap_SuccessorMember / us-gaap_UnderlyingAssetClassAxis = us-gaap_CollateralizedLoanObligationsMember
CLO [Member] | Successor [Member] | Credit Derivatives [Member] |  |
Summary of information by major category of CDS contracts |  |
Net derivative liabilities at fair value | 2,027 us-gaap_DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeLiabilityAmountNotOffsetAgainstCollateral / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis = ambc_CreditDerivativesMember / us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis = us-gaap_SuccessorMember / us-gaap_UnderlyingAssetClassAxis = us-gaap_CollateralizedLoanObligationsMember | 7,993 us-gaap_DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeLiabilityAmountNotOffsetAgainstCollateral / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis = ambc_CreditDerivativesMember / us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis = us-gaap_SuccessorMember / us-gaap_UnderlyingAssetClassAxis = us-gaap_CollateralizedLoanObligationsMember
Other [Member] | Successor [Member] |  |
Summary of information by major category of CDS contracts |  |
Number of CDS transactions | 10 us-gaap_DerivativeNumberOfInstrumentsHeld / us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis = us-gaap_SuccessorMember / us-gaap_UnderlyingAssetClassAxis = us-gaap_UnderlyingOtherMember | 13 us-gaap_DerivativeNumberOfInstrumentsHeld / us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis = us-gaap_SuccessorMember / us-gaap_UnderlyingAssetClassAxis = us-gaap_UnderlyingOtherMember
Remaining expected weighted-average life of obligations (in years) | 5 years 5 months 2 days | 5 years 0 months 15 days
Gross principal notional outstanding | 979,836 invest_DerivativeNotionalAmount / us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis = us-gaap_SuccessorMember / us-gaap_UnderlyingAssetClassAxis = us-gaap_UnderlyingOtherMember | 1,438,366 invest_DerivativeNotionalAmount / us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis = us-gaap_SuccessorMember / us-gaap_UnderlyingAssetClassAxis = us-gaap_UnderlyingOtherMember
Other [Member] | Successor [Member] | Credit Derivatives [Member] |  |
Summary of information by major category of CDS contracts |  |
Net derivative liabilities at fair value | $ 71,432 us-gaap_DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeLiabilityAmountNotOffsetAgainstCollateral / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis = ambc_CreditDerivativesMember / us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis = us-gaap_SuccessorMember / us-gaap_UnderlyingAssetClassAxis = us-gaap_UnderlyingOtherMember | $ 86,329 us-gaap_DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeLiabilityAmountNotOffsetAgainstCollateral / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis = ambc_CreditDerivativesMember / us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis = us-gaap_SuccessorMember / us-gaap_UnderlyingAssetClassAxis = us-gaap_UnderlyingOtherMember

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- Definition Aggregate notional amount specified by the derivative(s). Expressed as an absolute value. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Article 12 -Section 13 -Sentence Column B + Details
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- Definition Average remaining period until maturity of the derivative contract, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition Fair value, after offset of derivative asset, of financial liability or contract with one or more underlyings, notional amount or payment provision or both, and the contract can be net settled by means outside the contract or delivery of an asset, elected not to be and before offset against a right to receive collateral under a master netting arrangement. Includes liabilities elected not to be offset. Excludes liabilities not subject to a master netting arrangement. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 3 -Subparagraph (c) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=34720828&loc=SL20225862-175312 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 20 -Section 55 -Paragraph 10 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=36459792&loc=SL20226008-175313 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 20 -Section 55 -Paragraph 9 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=36459792&loc=SL20226006-175313 Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 815 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 8 -Subparagraph (c) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35706170&loc=d3e41678-113959 + Details
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- Definition The number of derivative instruments of a particular group held by the entity. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 815 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1B -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35706170&loc=SL5580258-113959 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 815 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1A -Subparagraph (d) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35706170&loc=SL5579245-113959 + Details
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