Stockholders' Deficit/Equity (Details)					1 Months Ended	9 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 14, 2017 shares	Aug. 11, 2017 USD ($) $ / shares shares	Jul. 28, 2017 USD ($) director $ / shares shares	Sep. 01, 2015 USD ($)	Aug. 31, 2017 USD ($) $ / shares shares	Aug. 31, 2020 USD ($) $ / shares shares	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($) $ / shares shares	Nov. 30, 2019 USD ($) $ / shares shares		Jul. 17, 2017 shares	Jul. 16, 2017 shares
Stockholders Equity [Line Items]
Stock options granted (in shares)						0
Stock options outstanding (in shares)						0		85,000
Share and note repurchase program, authorized amount | $				$ 10,000,000.0
Stock repurchase program, term of plan				2 years
Shares purchased (in shares)							608,000
Cost of shares purchased | $						$ 2,534,000	$ 2,500,000	$ 2,534,000	[1]
Average cost per share purchased (in dollars per share) | $ / shares							$ 4.17
Common stock, par value (in dollars per share) | $ / shares						$ 0.01		$ 0.01	[1]
Common stock, shares authorized (in shares)						415,000,000		415,000,000	[1]	415,000,000	80,000,000
Number of board of directors | director			7
Common Stock Purchase Agreement
Stockholders Equity [Line Items]
Sale of stock, number of shares issued (in shares)			115,000,000
Common stock, par value (in dollars per share) | $ / shares			$ 0.01
Sale of stock, price per share (in dollars per share) | $ / shares			$ 0.20
Common stock issued value | $			$ 23,000,000.0
Immediately Upon Issuance | Convertible Notes
Stockholders Equity [Line Items]
Warrants issued (in shares)			17,500,000
At Later Times After Conversion of Notes | Convertible Notes
Stockholders Equity [Line Items]
Warrants issued (in shares)			25,000,000
Warrant Investors
Stockholders Equity [Line Items]
Warrants issued (in shares)			42,500,000
Exercise price of warrants (in dollars per share) | $ / shares			$ 0.20
Term of warrants			8 years
PJC, Triax and Other Affiliates
Stockholders Equity [Line Items]
Warrants issued (in shares)			27,150,000
Sale of stock, number of shares issued (in shares)			39,320,038
PJC, Triax and Other Affiliates | Emergent Capital, Inc.
Stockholders Equity [Line Items]
Percentage of ownership after sale of stocks (as percent)			38.90%
PJC, Triax and Other Affiliates | Common Stock Purchase Agreement
Stockholders Equity [Line Items]
Sale of stock, number of shares issued (in shares)			75,000,000
Common stock issued value | $			$ 15,000,000.0
Convertible Notes Holders Investors | Common Stock Purchase Agreement
Stockholders Equity [Line Items]
Sale of stock, number of shares issued (in shares)			40,000,000
Common stock issued value | $			$ 8,000,000.0
PJC Investments, LLC | Common Stock Purchase Agreement
Stockholders Equity [Line Items]
Sale of stock, number of shares issued (in shares)			19,320,038
Brennan | Common Stock Purchase Agreement
Stockholders Equity [Line Items]
Securities remaining for future issuance (in shares)		12,500,000			12,500,000
Sale of stock, number of shares issued (in shares)	3,750,000	8,750,000
Sale of stock, price per share (in dollars per share) | $ / shares		$ 0.40			$ 0.40
Sale of stock, aggregate purchase price | $		$ 5,000,000.0			$ 5,000,000.0
Other Investors Designated by PJC and Triax
Stockholders Equity [Line Items]
Warrants issued (in shares)			13,350,000
Sale of stock, number of shares issued (in shares)			55,000,000
Other Investors Designated by PJC and Triax | Emergent Capital, Inc.
Stockholders Equity [Line Items]
Percentage of ownership after sale of stocks (as percent)			43.60%
Restricted Stock
Stockholders Equity [Line Items]
Awards granted (in shares)						1,000,000
Awards vested (in shares)						333,333
Awards subject to vesting (in shares)						1,000,000		333,333
Omnibus Plan
Stockholders Equity [Line Items]
Securities remaining for future issuance (in shares)						8,511,785
Omnibus Plan | Stock Options
Stockholders Equity [Line Items]
Shares of common stock reserved for future grant (in shares)						12,600,000
Omnibus Plan | Stock Appreciation Rights | Directors
Stockholders Equity [Line Items]
Stock options granted (in shares)						100,000
Stock options outstanding (in shares)						100,000
Omnibus Plan | Restricted Stock
Stockholders Equity [Line Items]
Awards vested (in shares)						2,270,000
Omnibus Plan | Restricted Stock | Directors
Stockholders Equity [Line Items]
Awards granted (in shares)						633,215
Awards vested (in shares)						633,215
Omnibus Plan | Restricted Stock | Employees
Stockholders Equity [Line Items]
Awards granted (in shares)						3,270,000
Awards subject to vesting (in shares)						1,000,000

[1] Derived from audited consolidated financial statements.