SCHEDULE II - CONDENSED FINANCIAL INFORMATION OF REGISTRANT (Details 2) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Sep. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2011	Mar. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2012		Dec. 31, 2011		Dec. 31, 2010
Revenues
Net investment income (loss)	$ 476,045	$ 467,944	$ 456,222	$ 462,121	$ 464,719	$ 462,926	$ 448,785	$ 444,213	$ 1,862,332		$ 1,820,643		$ 1,683,676
Realized investment gains (losses)	(36,878)	(20,223)	3,717	(12,947)	1,077	30,585	14,437	(13,877)	(66,331)		32,222		(25,393)
Other income	84,633	81,190	81,480	111,260	72,520	75,859	87,224	72,209	358,563		307,812		222,418
Total revenues	869,859	892,791	908,175	952,181	886,897	939,381	902,784	837,080	3,623,006		3,566,142		3,097,755
Expenses
Interest-subordinated debt									36,500
Interest-other									29,400
Total benefits and expenses	766,140	801,805	800,488	801,602	764,260	817,095	767,945	746,366	3,170,035		3,095,666		2,762,983
Income before income tax	103,719	90,986	107,687	150,579	122,637	122,286	134,839	90,714	452,971		470,476		334,772
Income tax (benefit) expense
Current									76,186		9,774		(3,214)
Deferred									74,333		145,065		113,117
Total income tax expense	36,923	30,506	31,532	51,558	36,603	39,429	46,920	31,887	150,519		154,839		109,903
Net income	66,796	60,480	76,155	99,021	86,034	82,857	87,919	58,827	302,452		315,637		224,869
PROTECTIVE LIFE CORPORATION
Revenues
Dividends from subsidiaries									257,573		224,179		5,576
Service fees from subsidiaries									160,373		151,934		139,024
Net investment income (loss)									63,817		62,644		52,380
Realized investment gains (losses)									(10,596)		(248)		6,400
Other income													617
Total revenues									471,167		438,509		203,997
Expenses
Operating and administrative									99,138		82,759		75,725
Interest-subordinated debt									37,598		37,604		37,604
Interest-other									94,974		98,809		101,008
Total benefits and expenses									231,710		219,172		214,337
Income before income tax									239,457		219,337		(10,340)
Income tax (benefit) expense
Current									8,883		9,722		(14,021)
Deferred									(4,075)		(10,665)		7,545
Total income tax expense									4,808		(943)		(6,476)
Income (loss) before minority interest									234,649		220,280		(3,864)
Equity in undistributed income (loss) of subsidiaries									67,803		95,357		228,733
Net income									$ 302,452	[1]	$ 315,637	[1]	$ 224,869	[1]

[1] Includes noncontrolling interests related to the Company's subs