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Background and Business Description - Additional Information (Detail) | 1 Months Ended | 4 Months Ended | 8 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended |
--- | --- | --- | --- | --- | ---
Apr. 30, 2013 USD ($) $ / shares shares | Apr. 30, 2013 USD ($) $ / shares shares | Dec. 31, 2013 USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($) Segment $ / shares shares | Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($) $ / shares Rate shares | Dec. 31, 2010 USD ($) | May. 01, 2013 USD ($) $ / shares shares
Background And Basis Of Presentation [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Unpaid as a Percentage of Permitted Policy Claims | Rate |  |  |  |  | 55.00% |  |
Entity Incorporation, Date of Incorporation |  |  |  | Apr. 29, 1991 | Apr. 29, 1991 |  |
Number of reportable segments | Segment |  |  |  | 2 |  |  |
Par Value of Owner Trust Certificate |  |  |  |  | $ 74,794,000 |  |
Par Value of Private Placement |  |  |  |  | $ 299,175,000 |  |
Private Placement Par Value Proceeds |  |  |  |  | 80.00% |  |
Private Placement Maturity Date |  |  |  |  | Aug. 28, 2039 |  |
Interest on junior surplus notes |  |  |  |  | 5.10% |  |
Investment Warrants Expiration Date |  | Apr. 30, 2023 |  |  |  |  |
Transaction Limit |  |  |  |  | $ 5,000,000 |  |
Accrued rate of interest on outstanding policy obligations (percent) |  |  |  | 5.10% | 5.10% |  |
Payment of permitted policy claim (percent) |  |  |  |  | 25.00% |  |
Equalizing payment on unpaid permitted policy claim (percent) |  |  |  |  | 26.67% |  |
December 2014 Payment of Deferred Amounts |  |  |  |  | $ 1,137,202,000 |  |
Capital Stock Authorized | shares | 150,000,000 | 150,000,000 |  |  |  |  |
Common stock, shares authorized | shares | 130,000,000 | 130,000,000 |  |  |  |  |
Common Stock, Par or Stated Value Per Share | $ / shares | $ 0.01 | $ 0.01 |  |  |  |  |
Preferred stock, shares authorized | shares | 20,000,000 | 20,000,000 |  |  |  |  |
Preferred Stock, Par or Stated Value Per Share | $ / shares | $ 0.01 | $ 0.01 |  |  |  |  |
Common stock, shares issued | shares | 45,000,000 | 45,000,000 |  |  |  |  |
Warrants issued exercise price | $ / shares | $ 16.67 | $ 16.67 |  |  |  |  |
Mediation Agreement Cash Grant | $ 30,000,000 | $ 30,000,000 |  |  |  |  |
Junior surplus note of Ambac Assurance Segregated Account | 350,000,000 | $ 350,000,000 |  |  |  |  | $ 350,000,000
Common Stock Voting Restrictions |  |  |  |  | 10.00% |  |
Common Stock Voting Restriction Less One Vote |  |  |  |  | 10.00% |  |
Common Stock Transfer Restrictions |  |  |  |  | 5.00% |  |
Common Stock Additional Transfer Restrictions |  |  |  |  | 5.00% |  |
November 2014 Payment of Surplus Notes |  |  |  |  | $ 413,587,000 |  |
Ambac Assurance [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Background And Basis Of Presentation [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net par exposure for policies allocated to the Segregated Account |  |  |  | $ 15,361,202,000 |  |  |
Issuance of secured note to segregated account |  |  |  |  |  | $ 2,000,000,000 |
Secured note maturity year |  |  |  |  |  | 2050 |
Interest on the secured note accrues |  |  |  |  |  | 4.50% |
Available secured notes including capitalized interest |  |  |  |  | 0 |  |
Minimum surplus amount |  |  |  | 100,000,000 |  |  |
Maximum Reimbursement Of Operating Expenses | $ 5,000,000 |  |  |  |  |  |
Successor [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Background And Basis Of Presentation [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Proceeds from the sale of Junior Surplus Notes of the Segregated Account |  |  | $ 0 | $ 0 | $ 224,262,000 |  |
Common stock, shares authorized | shares |  |  |  | 130,000,000 | 130,000,000 |  |
Common Stock, Par or Stated Value Per Share | $ / shares |  |  |  | $ 0.01 | $ 0.01 |  | $ 0.01
Preferred stock, shares authorized | shares |  |  |  | 20,000,000 | 20,000,000 |  |
Preferred Stock, Par or Stated Value Per Share | $ / shares |  |  |  | $ 0.01 | $ 0.01 |  |
Common stock, shares issued | shares |  |  |  | 45,044,222 | 45,005,932 |  | 45,000,000
Warrants Distributed In Bankruptcy | shares | 5,047,138 | 5,047,138 |  |  |  |  | 5,047,138
Warrants issued exercise price | $ / shares |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 16.67
Two Thousand And Seventeen [Member] | Ambac Assurance [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Background And Basis Of Presentation [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Maximum Reimbursement Of Operating Expenses after 2017 | $ 4,000,000 |  |  |  |  |  |

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- Definition Junior Surplus Notes issued by the Segregated Account of Ambac Assurance to Ambac upon Ambac's emergence from bankruptcy. These Junior Surplus notes will be includable in surplus for statutory accounting purposes as prescribed or permitted by state laws and regulations. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition Original issuance amount of the Secured Note issued by Ambac Assurance to the Segregated Account of Ambac Assurance in connection with the establishment of the Ambac Assurance Segregated Account. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition Current amount outstanding, including capitalized interest, relating to a Secured Note issued by Ambac Assurance to the Segregated Account of Ambac Assurance in connection with the establishment of the Ambac Assurance Segregated Account. + References No definition available. + Details
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