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Comprehensive Income - Schedule of Changes in Balances of Each Component of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Detail) (Successor [Member], USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified | 3 Months Ended
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Mar. 31, 2015 | Mar. 31, 2014
Changes In Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Roll Forward] |  |
Beginning Balance | $ 220,283 us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax | $ 11,661 us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax
Other comprehensive income before reclassifications | 75 us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossBeforeReclassificationsNetOfTax | 98,860 us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossBeforeReclassificationsNetOfTax
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income | (51,029)us-gaap_ReclassificationFromAccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeCurrentPeriodNetOfTax | (6,104)us-gaap_ReclassificationFromAccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeCurrentPeriodNetOfTax
Net current period other comprehensive income | (50,954)ambc_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossExcludingNoncontrollingInterestNetOfTax | 92,756 ambc_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossExcludingNoncontrollingInterestNetOfTax
Ending Balance | 169,329 us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax | 104,417 us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax
Unrealized Gains (Losses) on Available-for-Sale Securities [Member] |  |
Changes In Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Roll Forward] |  |
Beginning Balance | 210,693 us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AccumulatedNetUnrealizedInvestmentGainLossMember / us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis = us-gaap_SuccessorMember | (41,910)us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AccumulatedNetUnrealizedInvestmentGainLossMember / us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis = us-gaap_SuccessorMember
Other comprehensive income before reclassifications | 33,554 us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossBeforeReclassificationsNetOfTax / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AccumulatedNetUnrealizedInvestmentGainLossMember / us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis = us-gaap_SuccessorMember | 94,622 us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossBeforeReclassificationsNetOfTax / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AccumulatedNetUnrealizedInvestmentGainLossMember / us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis = us-gaap_SuccessorMember
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income | (51,002)us-gaap_ReclassificationFromAccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeCurrentPeriodNetOfTax / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AccumulatedNetUnrealizedInvestmentGainLossMember / us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis = us-gaap_SuccessorMember | (5,900)us-gaap_ReclassificationFromAccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeCurrentPeriodNetOfTax / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AccumulatedNetUnrealizedInvestmentGainLossMember / us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis = us-gaap_SuccessorMember
Net current period other comprehensive income | (17,448)ambc_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossExcludingNoncontrollingInterestNetOfTax / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AccumulatedNetUnrealizedInvestmentGainLossMember / us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis = us-gaap_SuccessorMember | 88,722 ambc_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossExcludingNoncontrollingInterestNetOfTax / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AccumulatedNetUnrealizedInvestmentGainLossMember / us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis = us-gaap_SuccessorMember
Ending Balance | 193,245 us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AccumulatedNetUnrealizedInvestmentGainLossMember / us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis = us-gaap_SuccessorMember | 46,812 us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AccumulatedNetUnrealizedInvestmentGainLossMember / us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis = us-gaap_SuccessorMember
Other Postretirement Benefit Plan, Defined Benefit [Member] |  |
Changes In Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Roll Forward] |  |
Beginning Balance | 10,031 us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_OtherPostretirementBenefitPlansDefinedBenefitMember / us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis = us-gaap_SuccessorMember | 10,847 us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_OtherPostretirementBenefitPlansDefinedBenefitMember / us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis = us-gaap_SuccessorMember
Other comprehensive income before reclassifications | 0 us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossBeforeReclassificationsNetOfTax / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_OtherPostretirementBenefitPlansDefinedBenefitMember / us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis = us-gaap_SuccessorMember | 0 us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossBeforeReclassificationsNetOfTax / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_OtherPostretirementBenefitPlansDefinedBenefitMember / us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis = us-gaap_SuccessorMember
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income | (27)us-gaap_ReclassificationFromAccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeCurrentPeriodNetOfTax / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_OtherPostretirementBenefitPlansDefinedBenefitMember / us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis = us-gaap_SuccessorMember | (204)us-gaap_ReclassificationFromAccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeCurrentPeriodNetOfTax / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_OtherPostretirementBenefitPlansDefinedBenefitMember / us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis = us-gaap_SuccessorMember
Net current period other comprehensive income | (27)ambc_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossExcludingNoncontrollingInterestNetOfTax / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_OtherPostretirementBenefitPlansDefinedBenefitMember / us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis = us-gaap_SuccessorMember | (204)ambc_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossExcludingNoncontrollingInterestNetOfTax / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_OtherPostretirementBenefitPlansDefinedBenefitMember / us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis = us-gaap_SuccessorMember
Ending Balance | 10,004 us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_OtherPostretirementBenefitPlansDefinedBenefitMember / us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis = us-gaap_SuccessorMember | 10,643 us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_OtherPostretirementBenefitPlansDefinedBenefitMember / us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis = us-gaap_SuccessorMember
Accumulated Translation Adjustment [Member] |  |
Changes In Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Roll Forward] |  |
Beginning Balance | (441)us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AccumulatedTranslationAdjustmentMember / us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis = us-gaap_SuccessorMember | 42,724 us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AccumulatedTranslationAdjustmentMember / us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis = us-gaap_SuccessorMember
Other comprehensive income before reclassifications | (33,479)us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossBeforeReclassificationsNetOfTax / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AccumulatedTranslationAdjustmentMember / us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis = us-gaap_SuccessorMember | 4,238 us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossBeforeReclassificationsNetOfTax / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AccumulatedTranslationAdjustmentMember / us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis = us-gaap_SuccessorMember
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income | 0 us-gaap_ReclassificationFromAccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeCurrentPeriodNetOfTax / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AccumulatedTranslationAdjustmentMember / us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis = us-gaap_SuccessorMember | 0 us-gaap_ReclassificationFromAccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeCurrentPeriodNetOfTax / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AccumulatedTranslationAdjustmentMember / us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis = us-gaap_SuccessorMember
Net current period other comprehensive income | (33,479)ambc_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossExcludingNoncontrollingInterestNetOfTax / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AccumulatedTranslationAdjustmentMember / us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis = us-gaap_SuccessorMember | 4,238 ambc_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossExcludingNoncontrollingInterestNetOfTax / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AccumulatedTranslationAdjustmentMember / us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis = us-gaap_SuccessorMember
Ending Balance | $ (33,920)us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AccumulatedTranslationAdjustmentMember / us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis = us-gaap_SuccessorMember | $ 46,962 us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AccumulatedTranslationAdjustmentMember / us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis = us-gaap_SuccessorMember

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- Definition Accumulated change in equity from transactions and other events and circumstances from non-owner sources, net of tax effect, at period end. Excludes Net Income (Loss), and accumulated changes in equity from transactions resulting from investments by owners and distributions to owners. Includes foreign currency translation items, certain pension adjustments, unrealized gains and losses on certain investments in debt and equity securities, other than temporary impairment (OTTI) losses related to factors other than credit losses on available-for-sale and held-to-maturity debt securities that an entity does not intend to sell and it is not more likely than not that the entity will be required to sell before recovery of the amortized cost basis, as well as changes in the fair value of derivatives related to the effective portion of a designated cash flow hedge. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 220 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 11 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=36458714&loc=d3e637-108580 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 220 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 14 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=36458714&loc=d3e681-108580 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 220 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 14A -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=36458714&loc=SL7669686-108580 Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 02 -Paragraph 31 -Article 5 Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 04 -Article 3 + Details
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