2.4.0.81001001 - Statement - Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (Parenthetical)truefalseIn Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specifiedfalse1false USDfalsefalse$I2013Q2_us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis_us-gaap_CommonClassAMemberhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0000070684instant2013-06-30T00:00:000001-01-01T00:00:00sharesStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancesharesxbrli0usdPerShareDividehttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso4217http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancesharesxbrli0USDUSD$2false USDfalsefalse$I2012Q4_us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis_us-gaap_CommonClassAMemberhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0000070684instant2012-12-31T00:00:000001-01-01T00:00:00sharesStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancesharesxbrli0usdPerShareDividehttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso4217http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancesharesxbrli0USDUSD$1false 4us-gaap_HeldToMaturitySecuritiesFairValueus-gaap_truedebitinstantfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboseLabel1truefalsefalse64911760006491176USD$falsetruefalse2truefalsefalse65036270006503627USD$falsetruefalsexbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThis item represents the aggregate fair value of investments in debt securities as of the balance sheet date and which are categorized as held-to-maturity.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 115 -Paragraph 19 -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy. Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 115 -Paragraph 137 -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy. Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 320 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 5 -Subparagraph (a) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6872113&loc=d3e27232-111563 false2Securities held to maturity-fair value2false 4us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAmortizedCostus-gaap_truedebitinstantfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterseLabel1truefalsefalse26261740002626174USD$falsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse25685120002568512USD$falsefalsefalsexbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThis item represents the cost of debt and equity securities, which are categorized neither as held-to-maturity nor trading, net of adjustments including accretion, amortization, collection of cash, previous other-than-temporary impairments recognized in earnings (less any cumulative-effect adjustments recognized, as defined), and fair value hedge accounting adjustments, if any.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.2) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name FASB Staff Position (FSP) -Number FAS115-1/124-1 -Paragraph 7 -Footnote 2 -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy. Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 115 -Paragraph 19 -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy. false2Securities available for sale-amortized cost3false 4us-gaap_AllowanceForLoanAndLeaseLossesRealEstateus-gaap_truecreditinstantfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterseLabel1truefalsefalse650000650USD$falsetruefalse2truefalsefalse650000650USD$falsetruefalsexbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThe reserve to cover probable credit losses related to specifically identified fixed maturity real estate loans as well as probable credit losses inherent in the remainder of that loan portfolio.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 60 -Paragraph 47 -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy. Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 944 -SubTopic 310 -Section 45 -Paragraph 4 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6873192&loc=d3e21338-158488 false2Mortgage loans-allowance for possible losses4false 0truefalsetruefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalse1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse3false USDtruefalse$I2013Q2_us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis_us-gaap_CommonClassAMemberhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0000070684instant2013-06-30T00:00:000001-01-01T00:00:00falsefalseus-gaap_CommonClassAMemberus-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldius-gaap_CommonClassAMemberus-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxisexplicitMembersharesStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancesharesxbrli0usdPerShareDividehttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso4217http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancesharesxbrli0USDUSD$nanafalse0Common Class A [Member]5true 4us-gaap_StockholdersEquityAbstractus-gaap_truenadurationfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterseLabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsexbrli:stringItemTypestringfalse0STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY:6false 5us-gaap_CommonStockParOrStatedValuePerShareus-gaap_truenainstantfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterseLabel1truefalsefalse11USD$falsetruefalse2truefalsefalse11USD$falsetruefalsenum:perShareItemTypedecimalFace amount or stated value of common stock per share; generally not indicative of the fair market value per share.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 129 -Paragraph 4 -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy. Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.29) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 02 -Paragraph 30 -Article 5 false3Common stock, par value7false 5us-gaap_CommonStockSharesAuthorizedus-gaap_truenainstantfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterseLabel1truefalsefalse75000007500000falsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse75000007500000falsefalsefalsexbrli:sharesItemTypesharesThe maximum number of common shares permitted to be issued by an entity's charter and bylaws.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.29) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 02 -Paragraph 30 -Article 5 false1Common stock, shares authorized8false 5us-gaap_CommonStockSharesIssuedus-gaap_truenainstantfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterseLabel1truefalsefalse34347633434763falsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse34347633434763falsefalsefalsexbrli:sharesItemTypesharesTotal number of common shares of an entity that have been sold or granted to shareholders (includes common shares that were issued, repurchased and remain in the treasury). These shares represent capital invested by the firm's shareholders and owners, and may be all or only a portion of the number of shares authorized. Shares issued include shares outstanding and shares held in the treasury.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.29) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 02 -Paragraph 30 -Article 5 false1Common stock, shares issued9false 5us-gaap_CommonStockSharesOutstandingus-gaap_truenainstantfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterseLabel1truefalsefalse34347633434763falsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse34347663434766falsefalsefalsexbrli:sharesItemTypesharesNumber of shares of common stock outstanding. Common stock represent the ownership interest in a corporation.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher AICPA -Name Accounting Principles Board Opinion (APB) -Number 12 -Paragraph 10 -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy. Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 04 -Article 3 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 505 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6928386&loc=d3e21463-112644 Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 505 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.3-04) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6959260&loc=d3e187085-122770 Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.29) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682 Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 02 -Paragraph 30 -Article 5 false1Common stock, shares outstanding10false 0truefalsetruefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalse1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse7false USDtruefalse$I2013Q2_us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis_us-gaap_CommonClassBMemberhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0000070684instant2013-06-30T00:00:000001-01-01T00:00:00falsefalseus-gaap_CommonClassBMemberus-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldius-gaap_CommonClassBMemberus-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxisexplicitMembersharesStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancesharesxbrli0usdPerShareDividehttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso4217http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancesharesxbrli0USDUSD$nanafalse0Common Class B [Member]11true 4us-gaap_StockholdersEquityAbstractus-gaap_truenadurationfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterseLabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsexbrli:stringItemTypestringfalse0STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY:12false 5us-gaap_CommonStockParOrStatedValuePerShareus-gaap_truenainstantfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterseLabel1truefalsefalse11USD$falsetruefalse2truefalsefalse11USD$falsetruefalsenum:perShareItemTypedecimalFace amount or stated value of common stock per share; generally not indicative of the fair market value per share.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 129 -Paragraph 4 -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy. Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.29) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 02 -Paragraph 30 -Article 5 false3Common stock, par value13false 5us-gaap_CommonStockSharesAuthorizedus-gaap_truenainstantfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterseLabel1truefalsefalse200000200000falsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse200000200000falsefalsefalsexbrli:sharesItemTypesharesThe maximum number of common shares permitted to be issued by an entity's charter and bylaws.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.29) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 02 -Paragraph 30 -Article 5 false1Common stock, shares authorized14false 5us-gaap_CommonStockSharesIssuedus-gaap_truenainstantfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterseLabel1truefalsefalse200000200000falsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse200000200000falsefalsefalsexbrli:sharesItemTypesharesTotal number of common shares of an entity that have been sold or granted to shareholders (includes common shares that were issued, repurchased and remain in the treasury). These shares represent capital invested by the firm's shareholders and owners, and may be all or only a portion of the number of shares authorized. Shares issued include shares outstanding and shares held in the treasury.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.29) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 02 -Paragraph 30 -Article 5 false1Common stock, shares issued15false 5us-gaap_CommonStockSharesOutstandingus-gaap_truenainstantfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterseLabel1truefalsefalse200000200000falsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse200000200000falsefalsefalsexbrli:sharesItemTypesharesNumber of shares of common stock outstanding. Common stock represent the ownership interest in a corporation.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher AICPA -Name Accounting Principles Board Opinion (APB) -Number 12 -Paragraph 10 -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy. Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 04 -Article 3 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 505 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6928386&loc=d3e21463-112644 Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 505 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.3-04) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6959260&loc=d3e187085-122770 Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.29) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682 Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 02 -Paragraph 30 -Article 5 false1Common stock, shares outstandingfalseCondensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (Parenthetical) (USD $)ThousandsNoRoundingNoRoundingUnKnowntruefalsefalseSheethttp://www.nationalwesternlife.com/role/CondensedConsolidatedBalanceSheetsParenthetical215