Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net (loss)/income	$ 111,648	$ (73,629)	$ (18,630)
Less: Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax	(15,056)	(127,124)	(83,536)
Less: Gain/(loss) from sale of discontinued operations, net of tax	3,841	0	(18,985)
Net income from continuing operations	122,863	53,495	83,891
Adjustments to reconcile net income from continuing operations to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	133,714	115,546	94,881
Provision for bad debts and claim losses	21,679	25,600	23,096
Share-based compensation	20,809	11,649	13,969
Tax benefit related to stock options	(947)	(363)	(3,423)
Equity in earnings of investee, net of taxes	(35,983)	(30,270)	(41,641)
Loss on sale of property	933	(8,061)	0
Loss on early extinguishment of debt	326	10,190	0
Deferred income tax	32,604	(16,203)	(6,149)
Loss/(gain) on investments and other, net	2,516	(60,005)	10,885
Change in operating assets and liabilities, net of acquisitions:
Accounts receivable	(37,340)	(15,893)	(10,011)
Prepaid expenses and other assets	2,903	(17,540)	5,413
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	57,192	(15,810)	95
Deferred revenue	10,836	(19,273)	(22,543)
Due from FAFC	621	(18,718)	13,278
Income taxes	(15,707)	86,994	(55,766)
Dividends received from investments in affiliates	70,666	42,929	64,603
Other assets and other liabilities	(25,386)	27,325	(6,433)
Net cash provided by operating activities - continuing operations	362,299	171,592	164,145
Net cash provided by/(used in) operating activities - discontinued operations	820	(10,655)	42,049
Total cash provided by operating activities	363,119	160,937	206,194
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchases of property and equipment	(52,600)	(45,215)	(52,610)
Purchases of capitalized data and other intangible assets	(31,880)	(27,009)	(24,814)
Cash paid for acquisitions, net of cash acquired	(78,354)	(214,215)	(9,228)
Cash received from sale of subsidiary, net, including discontinued operations	10,000	28,054	265,000
Purchases of investments	0	(26,898)	(27,284)
Proceeds from maturities of debt securities	0	0	371
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment	1,882	25,042	0
Proceeds from sale of investments	8,000	74,621	26,386
Issuance of notes receivable, net	0	0	(12,754)
Change in restricted cash	86	2,091	(21,095)
Net cash (used in)/provided by investing activities - continuing operations	(142,866)	(183,529)	143,972
Net cash used in investing activities - discontinued operations	(4,066)	(4,497)	(82,729)
Total cash (used in)/provided by investing activities	(146,932)	(188,026)	61,243
Cash flows from financing activities:
Purchases of redeemable noncontrolling interests	0	(72,000)	(385,847)
Proceeds from long-term debt	50,000	858,154	843,524
Debt issuance costs	0	(22,810)	(14,776)
Repayments of long-term debt	(166,715)	(733,407)	(713,643)
Shares repurchased and retired	(226,629)	(176,512)	(30,171)
Proceeds from issuance of stock related to stock options and employee benefit plans	13,497	3,087	11,674
Minimum tax withholding paid on behalf of employees for restricted stock units	(3,466)	(2,023)	(4,677)
Distribution to noncontrolling interests	(10)	(4,835)	(27,800)
Cash dividends	0	0	(22,657)
Tax benefit related to stock options	947	363	3,423
Net cash used in financing activities - continuing operations	(332,376)	(149,983)	(340,950)
Net cash (used in)/provided by financing activities - discontinued operations	(71)	71	29,087
Total cash used in by financing activities	(332,447)	(149,912)	(311,863)
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents	(116,260)	(177,001)	(44,426)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year	259,266	426,212	459,519
Less: Change in cash and cash equivalents of discontinued operations	(3,317)	(15,081)	(11,593)
Plus: Cash swept from/(to) discontinued operations	2,535	(5,026)	(474)
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year	148,858	259,266	426,212
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information:
Cash paid for interest	51,828	57,851	37,631
Cash paid for income taxes	71,283	36,480	58,008
Cash refunds from income taxes	18,330	50,157	32,497
Non-cash investing and financing activities:
Distribution of First American Financial Corporation (FAFC) to stockholders	0	0	1,678,270
Adjustment of carrying value of mandatorily redeemable noncontrolling interest	0	(3,800)	11,273
Tax impact of buy-in of noncontrolling interest	0	0	120,803
Note payable issued for the acquisition of affiliates	0	12,700	0
Promissory Note due to First American Financial Corporation	$ 0	$ 0	$ 19,900