Segment Reporting (Details) (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 item	Dec. 31, 2011 item
Segment Reporting
Number of major business segments									2	2
Summarized information by segment
Revenues	$ 17,686	$ 18,814	$ 14,294	$ 19,787	$ 16,370	$ 20,252	$ 16,918	$ 20,777	$ 70,581	$ 74,317
Costs and expenses	(23,017)	(16,971)	(14,253)	(13,948)	(22,224)	(17,379)	(14,785)	(14,211)	(68,189)	(68,599)
Equity income (loss) from unconsolidated subsidiaries	4,447	4,249	2,081	4,467	(5,700)	2,777	3,283	1,871	15,244	2,231
Gain on business combinations			935			155	278		935	433
Gain on debt extinguishment					26,543					26,543
Gain on sale of subsidiaries	705	746			1,813			5	1,451	1,818
Income tax (expense) benefit	(195)	59	(5)	(833)	(1,655)	(421)	(1,024)	(602)	(974)	(3,702)
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	93	(2,130)	(1,565)	(1,108)	187	(2,654)	(2,242)	(4,115)	(4,710)	(8,824)
Net earnings attributable to FirstCity	(281)	4,767	1,487	8,365	15,334	2,730	2,428	3,725	14,338	24,217
Portfolio Asset Acquisition and Resolution
Summarized information by segment
Revenues									55,577	63,877
Costs and expenses									(37,880)	(52,481)
Equity income (loss) from unconsolidated subsidiaries									8,958	(624)
Gain on business combinations										278
Gain on debt extinguishment										26,543
Gain on sale of subsidiaries									1,451	1,818
Income tax (expense) benefit									(490)	(3,807)
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests									(3,531)	(7,654)
Net earnings attributable to FirstCity									24,085	27,950
Special Situations Platform
Summarized information by segment
Revenues									14,117	10,190
Costs and expenses									(17,926)	(7,796)
Equity income (loss) from unconsolidated subsidiaries									6,286	2,855
Gain on business combinations									935	155
Income tax (expense) benefit									(326)	(166)
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests									(1,179)	(1,170)
Net earnings attributable to FirstCity									1,907	4,068
Special Situations Platform | Minimum
Segment reporting
Investments repayment or exit period									12 months
Special Situations Platform | Maximum
Segment reporting
Investments repayment or exit period									60 months
Corporate and Other
Summarized information by segment
Revenues									887	250
Costs and expenses									(12,383)	(8,322)
Income tax (expense) benefit									(158)	271
Net earnings attributable to FirstCity									$ (11,654)	$ (7,801)