Accounting Policies (Narrative) (Details) (USD $)	1 Months Ended	12 Months Ended			0 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2014 segment	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Jun. 21, 2005	Aug. 23, 2007	Jul. 01, 2004	Jul. 01, 2003	Jul. 01, 2002	Jul. 01, 2001	Jul. 01, 2008	Jul. 01, 2007	Jul. 01, 2006	Aug. 29, 2008
Number of reportable segments		3
Current yield to maturity, percentage		9.00%
Deferred policy acquisition costs, additions		$ 39,100,000	$ 55,000,000	$ 62,200,000
Deferred policy acquisition costs, amortized		(40,900,000)	(57,300,000)	(59,800,000)
Deferred policy acquisition cost, amortization (deferrals)		(1,800,000)	(2,300,000)	2,400,000
Property and equipment, gross		14,800,000	14,300,000
Property and equipment, depreciation method		straight-line method	straight-line method
Depreciation		700,000	1,200,000	1,200,000
Property and equipment, accumulated depreciation		13,200,000	12,500,000
Amount paid to acquire remaining interest in subsidiaries	1,700,000
Policy fees		11,500,000	13,200,000	11,800,000
Retained earnings		119,638,000	106,209,000
Decrease in deferred policy acquisition costs		(1,840,000)	(2,325,000)	2,357,000
Minimum [Member]
Property and equipment, estimated useful lives		3 years	3 years
Maximum [Member]
Property and equipment, estimated useful lives		10 years	10 years
Remaining Interest [Member]
Business acquisition, percentage of voting interests acquired	20.00%
Subordinated Debt [Member]
Long-term debt, gross		56,700,000	56,700,000
Trust Preferred Securities, fair value		47,600,000	53,200,000
Current yield to maturity, percentage		8.00%	8.00%
Subordinated Debt [Member] | Hallmark Statutory Trust I [Member]
Long-term debt, gross		30,900,000			30,900,000
Proceeds from issuance of trust preferred securities					30,000,000
Subordinated Debt [Member] | Hallmark Statutory Trust I I [Member]
Long-term debt, gross		25,800,000				25,800,000
Proceeds from issuance of trust preferred securities						25,000,000
Standard Commercial P & C Business Unit [Member]
Provisional loss ratio							64.20%	59.00%	59.00%	60.00%
Estimated ultimate loss ratio							66.00%	61.20%	64.50%	63.50%
Standard Commercial P & C Business Unit [Member] | Quota Share Treaty Effective January 1, 2006 [Member]
Profit sharing payable		1,300,000
E & S Commercial Business Unit [Member]
Provisional loss ratio											65.00%	65.00%	65.00%
Estimated ultimate loss ratio											59.50%	63.60%	58.70%
E & S Commercial Business Unit [Member] | Quota Share Treaty Effective January 1, 2006 [Member]
Profit sharing payable		$ 700,000
Excess and Umbrella Business Unit [Member]
Business acquisition, percentage of voting interests acquired														80.00%