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Financial Guarantee Insurance Contracts - Estimated Future Amortization Expense for Insurance Intangible Asset (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified | 3 Months Ended |
--- | --- | ---
Mar. 31, 2015 | Mar. 31, 2014 | Dec. 31, 2014
Amortization Of Intangible Assets [Line Items] |  |  |
Intangible Assets, Gross (Excluding Goodwill) | $ 1,631,068 us-gaap_IntangibleAssetsGrossExcludingGoodwill |  | $ 1,660,125 us-gaap_IntangibleAssetsGrossExcludingGoodwill
Accumulated amortization on insurance intangible asset | 283,773 ambc_AccumulatedAmortizationOnIntangibleAsset |  | 249,205 ambc_AccumulatedAmortizationOnIntangibleAsset
2015 | 90,801 us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseRemainderOfFiscalYear |  |
2016 | 107,443 us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseYearTwo |  |
2017 | 97,726 us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseYearThree |  |
2018 | 90,095 us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseYearFour |  |
2019 | 83,380 us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseYearFive |  |
Thereafter | 877,850 us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseAfterYearFive |  |
Successor [Member] |  |  |
Amortization Of Intangible Assets [Line Items] |  |  |
Amortization of insurance intangible assets | 37,432 us-gaap_AmortizationOfIntangibleAssets / us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis = us-gaap_SuccessorMember | 31,714 us-gaap_AmortizationOfIntangibleAssets / us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis = us-gaap_SuccessorMember |
Successor [Member] | Insurance Asset [Member] |  |  |
Amortization Of Intangible Assets [Line Items] |  |  |
Amortization of insurance intangible assets | $ 37,432 us-gaap_AmortizationOfIntangibleAssets / us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis = ambc_InsuranceAssetMember / us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis = us-gaap_SuccessorMember | $ 31,714 us-gaap_AmortizationOfIntangibleAssets / us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis = ambc_InsuranceAssetMember / us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis = us-gaap_SuccessorMember |

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- Definition Accumulated Amortization on Intangible Asset + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition The aggregate expense charged against earnings to allocate the cost of intangible assets (nonphysical assets not used in production) in a systematic and rational manner to the periods expected to benefit from such assets. As a noncash expense, this element is added back to net income when calculating cash provided by or used in operations using the indirect method. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 230 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 28 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=31042434&loc=d3e3602-108585 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 350 -SubTopic 30 -Section 45 -Paragraph 2 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6388964&loc=d3e16225-109274 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 350 -SubTopic 30 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (a)(2) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26713463&loc=d3e16323-109275 + Details
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- Definition Amount of amortization expense for assets, excluding financial assets and goodwill, lacking physical substance with a finite life expected to be recognized after the fifth fiscal year following the latest fiscal year. Excludes interim and annual periods when interim periods are reported on a rolling approach, from latest balance sheet date. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition Amount of amortization expense for assets, excluding financial assets and goodwill, lacking physical substance with a finite life expected to be recognized in the remainder of the fiscal year following the latest fiscal year. Excludes interim and annual periods when interim periods are reported on a rolling approach, from latest balance sheet date. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition Amount of amortization expense for assets, excluding financial assets and goodwill, lacking physical substance with a finite life expected to be recognized during the fifth fiscal year following the latest fiscal year. Excludes interim and annual periods when interim periods are reported on a rolling approach, from latest balance sheet date. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 350 -SubTopic 30 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (a)(3) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26713463&loc=d3e16323-109275 + Details
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- Definition Amount of amortization expense for assets, excluding financial assets and goodwill, lacking physical substance with a finite life expected to be recognized during the fourth fiscal year following the latest fiscal year. Excludes interim and annual periods when interim periods are reported on a rolling approach, from latest balance sheet date. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 350 -SubTopic 30 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (a)(3) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26713463&loc=d3e16323-109275 + Details
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- Definition Amount of amortization expense for assets, excluding financial assets and goodwill, lacking physical substance with a finite life expected to be recognized during the third fiscal year following the latest fiscal year. Excludes interim and annual periods when interim periods are reported on a rolling approach, from latest balance sheet date. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 350 -SubTopic 30 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (a)(3) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26713463&loc=d3e16323-109275 + Details
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- Definition Amount of amortization expense for assets, excluding financial assets and goodwill, lacking physical substance with a finite life expected to be recognized during the second fiscal year following the latest fiscal year. Excludes interim and annual periods when interim periods are reported on a rolling approach, from latest balance sheet date. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 350 -SubTopic 30 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (a)(3) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26713463&loc=d3e16323-109275 + Details
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- Definition Amount before accumulated amortization of intangible assets, excluding goodwill. + References No definition available. + Details
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