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Derivative Instruments - Summarize Information by Major Category of CDS Contracts (Detail) (USD $)
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
3 Months Ended 12 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2015
Transactions
Dec. 31, 2014
Transactions
Summary of information by major category of CDS contracts    
Gross principal notional outstanding 1,594,571invest_DerivativeNotionalAmount 1,529,759invest_DerivativeNotionalAmount
Successor [Member]    
Summary of information by major category of CDS contracts    
Number of CDS transactions 15us-gaap_DerivativeNumberOfInstrumentsHeld
/ us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis
= us-gaap_SuccessorMember
16us-gaap_DerivativeNumberOfInstrumentsHeld
/ us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis
= us-gaap_SuccessorMember
Remaining expected weighted-average life of obligations (in years) 4 years 4 months 20 days 4 years 1 month 12 days
CLO [Member] | Successor [Member]    
Summary of information by major category of CDS contracts    
Number of CDS transactions 5us-gaap_DerivativeNumberOfInstrumentsHeld
/ us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis
= us-gaap_SuccessorMember
/ us-gaap_UnderlyingAssetClassAxis
= us-gaap_CollateralizedLoanObligationsMember
6us-gaap_DerivativeNumberOfInstrumentsHeld
/ us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis
= us-gaap_SuccessorMember
/ us-gaap_UnderlyingAssetClassAxis
= us-gaap_CollateralizedLoanObligationsMember
Remaining expected weighted-average life of obligations (in years) 1 year 6 months 1 day 1 year 9 months 18 days
Gross principal notional outstanding 466,453invest_DerivativeNotionalAmount
/ us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis
= us-gaap_SuccessorMember
/ us-gaap_UnderlyingAssetClassAxis
= us-gaap_CollateralizedLoanObligationsMember
549,923invest_DerivativeNotionalAmount
/ us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis
= us-gaap_SuccessorMember
/ us-gaap_UnderlyingAssetClassAxis
= us-gaap_CollateralizedLoanObligationsMember
CLO [Member] | Successor [Member] | Credit Derivatives [Member]    
Summary of information by major category of CDS contracts    
Net derivative liabilities at fair value 1,533us-gaap_DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeLiabilityAmountNotOffsetAgainstCollateral
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= ambc_CreditDerivativesMember
/ us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis
= us-gaap_SuccessorMember
/ us-gaap_UnderlyingAssetClassAxis
= us-gaap_CollateralizedLoanObligationsMember
2,027us-gaap_DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeLiabilityAmountNotOffsetAgainstCollateral
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= ambc_CreditDerivativesMember
/ us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis
= us-gaap_SuccessorMember
/ us-gaap_UnderlyingAssetClassAxis
= us-gaap_CollateralizedLoanObligationsMember
Other [Member] | Successor [Member]    
Summary of information by major category of CDS contracts    
Number of CDS transactions 10us-gaap_DerivativeNumberOfInstrumentsHeld
/ us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis
= us-gaap_SuccessorMember
/ us-gaap_UnderlyingAssetClassAxis
= us-gaap_UnderlyingOtherMember
10us-gaap_DerivativeNumberOfInstrumentsHeld
/ us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis
= us-gaap_SuccessorMember
/ us-gaap_UnderlyingAssetClassAxis
= us-gaap_UnderlyingOtherMember
Remaining expected weighted-average life of obligations (in years) 5 years 7 months 1 day 5 years 5 months 2 days
Gross principal notional outstanding 1,128,118invest_DerivativeNotionalAmount
/ us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis
= us-gaap_SuccessorMember
/ us-gaap_UnderlyingAssetClassAxis
= us-gaap_UnderlyingOtherMember
979,836invest_DerivativeNotionalAmount
/ us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis
= us-gaap_SuccessorMember
/ us-gaap_UnderlyingAssetClassAxis
= us-gaap_UnderlyingOtherMember
Other [Member] | Successor [Member] | Credit Derivatives [Member]    
Summary of information by major category of CDS contracts    
Net derivative liabilities at fair value 74,844us-gaap_DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeLiabilityAmountNotOffsetAgainstCollateral
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= ambc_CreditDerivativesMember
/ us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis
= us-gaap_SuccessorMember
/ us-gaap_UnderlyingAssetClassAxis
= us-gaap_UnderlyingOtherMember
71,432us-gaap_DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeLiabilityAmountNotOffsetAgainstCollateral
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= ambc_CreditDerivativesMember
/ us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis
= us-gaap_SuccessorMember
/ us-gaap_UnderlyingAssetClassAxis
= us-gaap_UnderlyingOtherMember