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Financial Guarantee Insurance Contracts - Summary of Information Related to Policies Currently Included in Ambac's Loss Reserves or Subrogation Recoverable (Parenthetical) (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified | Mar. 31, 2015 | Dec. 31, 2014 | Mar. 31, 2014 | Dec. 31, 2013
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Schedule of Insured Financial Obligations with Credit Deterioration [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Loss Reserves Ceded To Reinsurers | $ 74,519 ambc_LossReservesCededToReinsurers | $ 100,355 ambc_LossReservesCededToReinsurers |  |
Ceded Loss And Loss Expenses Paid Not Yet Recovered | 4,789 ambc_CededLossAndLossExpensesPaidNotYetRecovered | 139 ambc_CededLossAndLossExpensesPaidNotYetRecovered | (517)ambc_CededLossAndLossExpensesPaidNotYetRecovered |
Successor [Member] |  |  |  |
Schedule of Insured Financial Obligations with Credit Deterioration [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Loss Reserves Ceded To Reinsurers | 74,519 ambc_LossReservesCededToReinsurers / us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis = us-gaap_SuccessorMember | 100,355 ambc_LossReservesCededToReinsurers / us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis = us-gaap_SuccessorMember | 111,303 ambc_LossReservesCededToReinsurers / us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis = us-gaap_SuccessorMember | 122,357 ambc_LossReservesCededToReinsurers / us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis = us-gaap_SuccessorMember
Loss and loss expense reserves | 4,475,991 us-gaap_LiabilityNetForClaimsAndClaimsAdjustmentExpenseFinancialGuaranteeInsuranceContracts / us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis = us-gaap_SuccessorMember | 4,752,007 us-gaap_LiabilityNetForClaimsAndClaimsAdjustmentExpenseFinancialGuaranteeInsuranceContracts / us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis = us-gaap_SuccessorMember |  |
Subrogation recoverable | (984,129)us-gaap_SalvageAndSubrogationRecoveriesValue / us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis = us-gaap_SuccessorMember | (953,274)us-gaap_SalvageAndSubrogationRecoveriesValue / us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis = us-gaap_SuccessorMember |  |
Liability for Claims | $ 3,491,862 us-gaap_LiabilityForClaimsAndClaimsAdjustmentExpense / us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis = us-gaap_SuccessorMember | $ 3,798,733 us-gaap_LiabilityForClaimsAndClaimsAdjustmentExpense / us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis = us-gaap_SuccessorMember | $ 5,313,933 us-gaap_LiabilityForClaimsAndClaimsAdjustmentExpense / us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis = us-gaap_SuccessorMember | $ 5,470,234 us-gaap_LiabilityForClaimsAndClaimsAdjustmentExpense / us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis = us-gaap_SuccessorMember

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- Definition Ceded Loss And Loss Expenses Paid Not Yet Recovered + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition The known and estimated amount recoverable as of the balance sheet date from reinsurers for claims expected to be paid or incurred by the ceding insurer. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition The amount needed to reflect the estimated ultimate cost of settling claims relating to insured events that have occurred on or before the balance sheet date, whether or not reported to the insurer at that date. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 944 -SubTopic 40 -Section 50 -Paragraph 3 -Subparagraph (a),(b),(c) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6482485&loc=d3e14764-158437 + Details
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- Definition The amount needed to reflect the estimated ultimate cost of settling claims relating to financial default insured events that have occurred on or before a particular date (ordinarily, the balance sheet date) and the amount needed to provide for the estimated ultimate cost required to investigate and settle claims relating to insured events that have occurred on or before a particular date (ordinarily, the balance sheet date), whether or not reported to the insurer at that date. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 944 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 7 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6933001&loc=SL5747862-161289 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 944 -SubTopic 40 -Section 50 -Paragraph 9 -Subparagraph (a)(5)(vii) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6933314&loc=SL5749324-161292 + Details
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- Definition The estimated amount as of the balance sheet date to be received by an insurer from the sale of property (usually damaged) on which the insurer has paid a total claim to the insured and has obtained title to the property and the right of an insurer to pursue any course of recovery of damages, in its name or in the name of the policyholder, against a third party who is liable for costs relating to an insured event that have been paid by the insurer. Estimated salvage and subrogation is generally deducted from the liability for unpaid claims. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 944 -SubTopic 40 -Section 30 -Paragraph 2 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6482241&loc=d3e13779-158432 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 944 -SubTopic 40 -Section 30 -Paragraph 3 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6482241&loc=d3e13783-158432 + Details
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