Basis of Presentation	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2012
Basis of Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Basis of Accounting [Text Block]	Basis of Presentation The accompanying unaudited interim Consolidated Financial Statements of Fortegra Financial Corporation and its subsidiaries have been prepared in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America ("U.S. GAAP") promulgated by the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") Accounting Standards Codification ("ASC" or "the guidance") for interim financial information and the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by U.S. GAAP for complete financial statements and should be read in conjunction with the Company's Annual Report. The interim financial statements in this report have not been audited. In the opinion of management, the accompanying unaudited interim financial information reflects all adjustments, including normal recurring adjustments and the adjustments for the retrospective adoption of the new accounting guidance for Accounting for Costs Associated with Acquiring or Renewing Insurance Contracts as described in Note 3, necessary to present fairly Fortegra's financial position, results of operations and other comprehensive income for each of the interim periods presented. The results of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2012 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the full year ending December 31, 2012. The Company has reviewed all material subsequent events that occurred up to the date the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements were issued to determine whether any event required recognition or disclosure in the financial statements and/or disclosure in the notes thereto. Principles of Consolidation The unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements include the accounts of the Company and its majority-owned and controlled subsidiaries. All material intercompany account balances and transactions have been eliminated. The third party ownership of 15% of the common stock of Southern Financial Life Insurance Company ("SFLAC") has been reflected as non-controlling interest on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. Income (loss) attributable to SFLAC's minority shareholders has been reflected on the Consolidated Statements of Income as income (loss) attributable to non-controlling interest and on the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income as comprehensive income (loss) attributable to non-controlling interest. Comprehensive Income (Loss) Comprehensive income (loss) includes both net income and other items of comprehensive income comprised of unrealized gains and losses on investment securities classified as available-for-sale and unrealized gains and losses on the interest rate swap. Use of Estimates Preparation of financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements, and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Reclassifications Certain items in prior financial statements have been reclassified to conform to the current presentation, which had no impact on net income, comprehensive income or loss, net cash provided by operating activities or stockholders' equity. Variable Interest Entities The Company's investments in less than majority-owned companies in which it has the ability to exercise significant influence over operating and financial policies are accounted for using the equity method except when they qualify as Variable Interest Entities, ("VIE") and the Company is the primary beneficiary, in which case the investments are consolidated in accordance with ASC 810, "Consolidation." Investments that do not meet the above criteria are accounted for under the cost method. In July 2011, the Company sold its 100% interest in Creative Investigations Recovery Group, LLC ("CIRG"). The consideration included a $1.1 million note receivable, included on the Consolidated Balance Sheets, with a first priority lien security interest in the assets of CIRG and other property of the buyers. The Company performed a detailed analysis of the CIRG sale transaction and determined that CIRG is considered a VIE, as defined in ASC 810, since the Company has an interest due to the note financing. The Company further determined that its maximum exposure to loss in the VIE is limited to the outstanding balance of the note receivable of $1.1 million at March 31, 2012 and that the Company is not the primary beneficiary because the Company does not have the power to direct the activities of the VIE and has no right to receive the residual returns of CIRG. Therefore, CIRG is not consolidated in the Company's results of operations.

Basis of Presentation

The accompanying unaudited interim Consolidated Financial Statements of Fortegra Financial Corporation and its subsidiaries have been prepared in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America ("U.S. GAAP") promulgated by the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") Accounting Standards Codification ("ASC" or "the guidance") for interim financial information and the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by U.S. GAAP for complete financial statements and should be read in conjunction with the Company's Annual Report.

The interim financial statements in this report have not been audited. In the opinion of management, the accompanying unaudited interim financial information reflects all adjustments, including normal recurring adjustments and the adjustments for the retrospective adoption of the new accounting guidance for Accounting for Costs Associated with Acquiring or Renewing Insurance Contracts as described in Note 3, necessary to present fairly Fortegra's financial position, results of operations and other comprehensive income for each of the interim periods presented. The results of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2012 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the full year ending December 31, 2012.

The Company has reviewed all material subsequent events that occurred up to the date the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements were issued to determine whether any event required recognition or disclosure in the financial statements and/or disclosure in the notes thereto.

Principles of Consolidation

The unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements include the accounts of the Company and its majority-owned and controlled subsidiaries. All material intercompany account balances and transactions have been eliminated. The third party ownership of 15% of the common stock of Southern Financial Life Insurance Company ("SFLAC") has been reflected as non-controlling interest on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. Income (loss) attributable to SFLAC's minority shareholders has been reflected on the Consolidated Statements of Income as income (loss) attributable to non-controlling interest and on the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income as comprehensive income (loss) attributable to non-controlling interest.

Comprehensive Income (Loss)

Comprehensive income (loss) includes both net income and other items of comprehensive income comprised of unrealized gains and losses on investment securities classified as available-for-sale and unrealized gains and losses on the interest rate swap.

Use of Estimates

Preparation of financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements, and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Reclassifications

Certain items in prior financial statements have been reclassified to conform to the current presentation, which had no impact on net income, comprehensive income or loss, net cash provided by operating activities or stockholders' equity.

Variable Interest Entities

The Company's investments in less than majority-owned companies in which it has the ability to exercise significant influence over operating and financial policies are accounted for using the equity method except when they qualify as Variable Interest Entities, ("VIE") and the Company is the primary beneficiary, in which case the investments are consolidated in accordance with ASC 810, "Consolidation." Investments that do not meet the above criteria are accounted for under the cost method.

In July 2011, the Company sold its 100% interest in Creative Investigations Recovery Group, LLC ("CIRG"). The consideration included a $1.1 million note receivable, included on the Consolidated Balance Sheets, with a first priority lien security interest in the assets of CIRG and other property of the buyers. The Company performed a detailed analysis of the CIRG sale transaction and determined that CIRG is considered a VIE, as defined in ASC 810, since the Company has an interest due to the note financing. The Company further determined that its maximum exposure to loss in the VIE is limited to the outstanding balance of the note receivable of $1.1 million at March 31, 2012 and that the Company is not the primary beneficiary because the Company does not have the power to direct the activities of the VIE and has no right to receive the residual returns of CIRG. Therefore, CIRG is not consolidated in the Company's results of operations.