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Fair Value Measurements - Summary of Gains and Losses (Realized and Unrealized) Relating to Level 3 Assets and Liabilities Included in Earnings (Detail) (Successor [Member], USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified | 3 Months Ended
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Mar. 31, 2015 | Mar. 31, 2014
Net Investment Income [Member] |  |
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation, Calculation [Roll Forward] |  |
Total gains or losses included in earnings for the period | $ 5,729 us-gaap_FairValueAssetsAndLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringBasisGainLossIncludedInEarnings / us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis = us-gaap_InvestmentIncomeMember / us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis = us-gaap_SuccessorMember | $ 419 us-gaap_FairValueAssetsAndLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringBasisGainLossIncludedInEarnings / us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis = us-gaap_InvestmentIncomeMember / us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis = us-gaap_SuccessorMember
Fair Value Asset Or Liability Measured On Recurring Basis Change In Unrealized Gains Losses Still Held | 0 ambc_FairValueAssetOrLiabilityMeasuredOnRecurringBasisChangeInUnrealizedGainsLossesStillHeld / us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis = us-gaap_InvestmentIncomeMember / us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis = us-gaap_SuccessorMember | 0 ambc_FairValueAssetOrLiabilityMeasuredOnRecurringBasisChangeInUnrealizedGainsLossesStillHeld / us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis = us-gaap_InvestmentIncomeMember / us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis = us-gaap_SuccessorMember
Realized Gains Or (Losses) and Other Settlements On Credit Derivative Contracts [Member] |  |
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation, Calculation [Roll Forward] |  |
Total gains or losses included in earnings for the period | 419 us-gaap_FairValueAssetsAndLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringBasisGainLossIncludedInEarnings / us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis = ambc_RealizedGainsOrLossesAndOtherSettlementsOnCreditDerivativeContractsMember / us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis = us-gaap_SuccessorMember | 775 us-gaap_FairValueAssetsAndLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringBasisGainLossIncludedInEarnings / us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis = ambc_RealizedGainsOrLossesAndOtherSettlementsOnCreditDerivativeContractsMember / us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis = us-gaap_SuccessorMember
Fair Value Asset Or Liability Measured On Recurring Basis Change In Unrealized Gains Losses Still Held | 0 ambc_FairValueAssetOrLiabilityMeasuredOnRecurringBasisChangeInUnrealizedGainsLossesStillHeld / us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis = ambc_RealizedGainsOrLossesAndOtherSettlementsOnCreditDerivativeContractsMember / us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis = us-gaap_SuccessorMember | 0 ambc_FairValueAssetOrLiabilityMeasuredOnRecurringBasisChangeInUnrealizedGainsLossesStillHeld / us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis = ambc_RealizedGainsOrLossesAndOtherSettlementsOnCreditDerivativeContractsMember / us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis = us-gaap_SuccessorMember
Unrealized Gains Or (Losses) On Credit Derivative Contracts [Member] |  |
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation, Calculation [Roll Forward] |  |
Total gains or losses included in earnings for the period | (2,918)us-gaap_FairValueAssetsAndLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringBasisGainLossIncludedInEarnings / us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis = ambc_UnrealizedGainsOrLossesOnCreditDerivativeContractsMember / us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis = us-gaap_SuccessorMember | 6,607 us-gaap_FairValueAssetsAndLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringBasisGainLossIncludedInEarnings / us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis = ambc_UnrealizedGainsOrLossesOnCreditDerivativeContractsMember / us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis = us-gaap_SuccessorMember
Fair Value Asset Or Liability Measured On Recurring Basis Change In Unrealized Gains Losses Still Held | (2,942)ambc_FairValueAssetOrLiabilityMeasuredOnRecurringBasisChangeInUnrealizedGainsLossesStillHeld / us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis = ambc_UnrealizedGainsOrLossesOnCreditDerivativeContractsMember / us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis = us-gaap_SuccessorMember | 6,607 ambc_FairValueAssetOrLiabilityMeasuredOnRecurringBasisChangeInUnrealizedGainsLossesStillHeld / us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis = ambc_UnrealizedGainsOrLossesOnCreditDerivativeContractsMember / us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis = us-gaap_SuccessorMember
Interest Rate Swaps [Member] |  |
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation, Calculation [Roll Forward] |  |
Total gains or losses included in earnings for the period | (11,422)us-gaap_FairValueAssetsAndLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringBasisGainLossIncludedInEarnings / us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis = us-gaap_InterestRateSwapMember / us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis = us-gaap_SuccessorMember | (21,631)us-gaap_FairValueAssetsAndLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringBasisGainLossIncludedInEarnings / us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis = us-gaap_InterestRateSwapMember / us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis = us-gaap_SuccessorMember
Fair Value Asset Or Liability Measured On Recurring Basis Change In Unrealized Gains Losses Still Held | (11,422)ambc_FairValueAssetOrLiabilityMeasuredOnRecurringBasisChangeInUnrealizedGainsLossesStillHeld / us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis = us-gaap_InterestRateSwapMember / us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis = us-gaap_SuccessorMember | (21,631)ambc_FairValueAssetOrLiabilityMeasuredOnRecurringBasisChangeInUnrealizedGainsLossesStillHeld / us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis = us-gaap_InterestRateSwapMember / us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis = us-gaap_SuccessorMember
Income Loss On Variable Interest Entities [Member] | Variable Interest Entity [Member] |  |
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation, Calculation [Roll Forward] |  |
Total gains or losses included in earnings for the period | 363,049 us-gaap_FairValueAssetsAndLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringBasisGainLossIncludedInEarnings / us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis = ambc_IncomeLossOnVariableInterestEntitiesMember / us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis = us-gaap_SuccessorMember / us-gaap_VariableInterestEntitiesByClassificationOfEntityAxis = us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityPrimaryBeneficiaryMember | 186,630 us-gaap_FairValueAssetsAndLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringBasisGainLossIncludedInEarnings / us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis = ambc_IncomeLossOnVariableInterestEntitiesMember / us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis = us-gaap_SuccessorMember / us-gaap_VariableInterestEntitiesByClassificationOfEntityAxis = us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityPrimaryBeneficiaryMember
Fair Value Asset Or Liability Measured On Recurring Basis Change In Unrealized Gains Losses Still Held | 363,049 ambc_FairValueAssetOrLiabilityMeasuredOnRecurringBasisChangeInUnrealizedGainsLossesStillHeld / us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis = ambc_IncomeLossOnVariableInterestEntitiesMember / us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis = us-gaap_SuccessorMember / us-gaap_VariableInterestEntitiesByClassificationOfEntityAxis = us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityPrimaryBeneficiaryMember | 184,635 ambc_FairValueAssetOrLiabilityMeasuredOnRecurringBasisChangeInUnrealizedGainsLossesStillHeld / us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis = ambc_IncomeLossOnVariableInterestEntitiesMember / us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis = us-gaap_SuccessorMember / us-gaap_VariableInterestEntitiesByClassificationOfEntityAxis = us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityPrimaryBeneficiaryMember
Other Income or (Loss) [Member] |  |
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation, Calculation [Roll Forward] |  |
Total gains or losses included in earnings for the period | (295)us-gaap_FairValueAssetsAndLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringBasisGainLossIncludedInEarnings / us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis = us-gaap_OtherIncomeMember / us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis = us-gaap_SuccessorMember | (262)us-gaap_FairValueAssetsAndLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringBasisGainLossIncludedInEarnings / us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis = us-gaap_OtherIncomeMember / us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis = us-gaap_SuccessorMember
Fair Value Asset Or Liability Measured On Recurring Basis Change In Unrealized Gains Losses Still Held | $ (295)ambc_FairValueAssetOrLiabilityMeasuredOnRecurringBasisChangeInUnrealizedGainsLossesStillHeld / us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis = us-gaap_OtherIncomeMember / us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis = us-gaap_SuccessorMember | $ (262)ambc_FairValueAssetOrLiabilityMeasuredOnRecurringBasisChangeInUnrealizedGainsLossesStillHeld / us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis = us-gaap_OtherIncomeMember / us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis = us-gaap_SuccessorMember

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- Definition The amount of gains or losses included in earnings attributable to unrealized gains or losses on financial instruments measured on a recurring basis using unobservable inputs that are still held at the reporting date. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition This item represents the amount of the total realized and unrealized gains or losses for the period which are included in the statement of income (or changes in net assets); the fair value of which assets and liabilities was or is measured on a recurring basis using significant unobservable inputs (Level 3). + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 820 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (c)(1) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=36462937&loc=d3e19207-110258 + Details
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