Financial Guarantee Insurance Contracts - Summary of Gross Premium Receivable Roll-Forward (Direct and Assumed Contracts) (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	5 Months Ended	9 Months Ended	4 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2013 Successor Ambac [Member]	Sep. 30, 2014 Successor Ambac [Member]	Apr. 30, 2013 Predecessor Ambac [Member]
Financial Guarantee Insurance Contracts, Premium Receivable [Roll Forward]
Beginning premium receivable	$ 1,531,631	$ 1,453,021	$ 1,620,621
Premium receipts	(49,940)	(100,646)	(48,296)
Adjustments for changes in expected and contractual cash flows	(70,900)	(93,795)	(28,237)
Accretion of premium receivable discount	17,232	29,644	14,740
Uncollectable premiums	(14,800)	(801)	(634)
Other adjustments (including foreign exchange)	22,787	(20,791)	(26,563)
Ending premium receivable	$ 1,436,010	$ 1,266,632	$ 1,531,631

Amount of increase (decrease) in the allowance for doubtful accounts.

No definition available.

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Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of the premium receivable for financial guarantee insurance contracts reported in the statement of financial position. This element primarily would consist of those financial guarantee insurance contracts which premiums are to be collected over the contract period, but may, on occasion, include premiums which are to be collected in full at inception, but which straddle a financial reporting period.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 944

-SubTopic 310

-Section 50

-Paragraph 3

-Subparagraph (c)(1),(5)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6933075&loc=SL5748726-161290

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of premium payments received during the period for premiums receivable on financial guarantee insurance contracts.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 944

-SubTopic 310

-Section 50

-Paragraph 3

-Subparagraph (c)(2)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6933075&loc=SL5748726-161290

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
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- Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

This element represents the accretion of the discount for premiums receivable on financial guarantee insurance contracts.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 944

-SubTopic 310

-Section 50

-Paragraph 3

-Subparagraph (c)(4)(iii)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6933075&loc=SL5748726-161290

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

This element represents adjustments to the premium receivable related to financial guarantee insurance contracts due to changes in the period of the contract.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 944

-SubTopic 310

-Section 50

-Paragraph 3

-Subparagraph (c)(4)(i)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6933075&loc=SL5748726-161290

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

This element represents other adjustments to premiums receivable on financial guarantee insurance contracts.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 944

-SubTopic 310

-Section 50

-Paragraph 3

-Subparagraph (c)(4)(iv)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6933075&loc=SL5748726-161290

+ Details

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