Transactions with FAFC (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended			0 Months Ended	12 Months Ended				12 Months Ended								0 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009	Apr. 11, 2011 FAFC [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 FAFC [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 FAFC [Member]	Dec. 31, 2009 FAFC [Member]	Apr. 05, 2011 FAFC [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Related Parties Of FAFC [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Related Parties Of FAFC [Member]	Dec. 31, 2009 Related Parties Of FAFC [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 FAFC [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 FAFC [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Promissory Note To FAFC [Member] Notes Payable, Other Payables [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Promissory Note To FAFC [Member] Notes Payable, Other Payables [Member]	Jun. 02, 2010 Promissory Note To FAFC [Member] Notes Payable, Other Payables [Member] FAFC [Member]	Jun. 01, 2010 FAFC [Member]	May 26, 2010 FAFC [Member]
Investments in and Advances to Related Parties [Line Items]
Reduction In Other Operating Expenses					$ 6,400,000	$ 5,400,000
Contingent Tax Obligation Receivable					34,400,000	59,700,000
Liability for Uncertain Tax Positions, Noncurrent					19,300,000	22,600,000						10,400,000	10,800,000
Payments for Repurchase of Stock From Related Party [Abstrct]
Seperation and Distribution Agreement Amount																		250,000,000
Payments for Repurchase of Common Stock	176,512,000	30,171,000	0	75,800,000
Stockholders Equity Spin Off Shares Issued																		12,933,265
Price Of Shares Purchased								$ 18.95
Stock Repurchased During Period, Shares				4,000,000
Stock Issued During Period, Value, Other																	242,600,000
Increase (Decrease) in Due to Related Parties, Current	(18,718,000)	13,278,000	(36,704,000)														7,400,000
Debt Instrument FAFC Transaction [Abstract]
Debt Instrument, Face Amount																19,900,000
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage														6.52%		6.52%
Promissory Note due to First American Financial Corporation	908,295,000	720,889,000												0	18,787,000
Operating Leases, Rent Expense	63,200,000	57,000,000	69,300,000		4,400,000	4,500,000	6,400,000
Sales Revenue, Services, Other									15,000,000	21,400,000	46,400,000
Other Cost and Expense, Operating									$ 4,200,000	$ 11,800,000	$ 6,600,000