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Represents the number of cities in which the company leases properties.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Definition

Represents the approximate annualized rent the lessee is obligated to pay on operating leases.

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

Represents the price at which the company may purchase the property leased under operating lease agreements at the end of the lease term.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Definition

Represents the typical term of operating leases.

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

Area of a real estate property.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Data Type:	num:areaItemType
Balance Type:	na
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- Definition

Amount of rent expense incurred for leased assets, including but not limited to, furniture and equipment, that is not directly or indirectly associated with the manufacture, sale or creation of a product or product line.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Definition

Amount of required minimum rental payments maturing in the next fiscal year following the latest fiscal year for operating leases having an initial or remaining non-cancelable letter-terms in excess of one year.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 840

-SubTopic 10

-Section 55

-Paragraph 40

-Subparagraph (Note 3)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6584154&loc=d3e38371-112697

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 840

-SubTopic 20

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (a)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6453985&loc=d3e41502-112717

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Amount of required minimum rental payments maturing in the fifth fiscal year following the latest fiscal year for operating leases having an initial or remaining non-cancelable letter-terms in excess of one year.

+ References

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- Definition

Amount of required minimum rental payments maturing in the forth fiscal year following the latest fiscal year for operating leases having an initial or remaining non-cancelable letter-terms in excess of one year.

+ References

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- Definition

Amount of required minimum rental payments maturing in the third fiscal year following the latest fiscal year for operating leases having an initial or remaining non-cancelable letter-terms in excess of one year.

+ References

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Amount of required minimum rental payments maturing in the second fiscal year following the latest fiscal year for operating leases having an initial or remaining non-cancelable letter-terms in excess of one year.

+ References

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- Definition

Amount of required minimum rental payments maturing after the fifth fiscal year following the latest fiscal year for operating leases having an initial or remaining non-cancelable letter-terms in excess of one year.

+ References

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SCHEDULE II - CONDENSED FINANCIAL INFORMATION OF REGISTRANT (Details 7) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013 item	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Administrative and marketing office space
Commitments and contingencies
Number of cities in which the company leases properties	19
Rental expense	$ 11,200,000	$ 11,200,000	$ 10,800,000
Aggregate annualized rent	7,000,000
Future minimum rental payments required under operating leases
2014	6,971,000
2015	5,845,000
2016	3,770,000
2017	1,391,000
2018	750,000
Thereafter	1,978,000
Administrative and marketing office space \| Minimum
Commitments and contingencies
Lease period	3 years
Administrative and marketing office space \| Maximum
Commitments and contingencies
Lease period	10 years
Administrative and Marketing Office Space Birmingham excluding Home Office
Commitments and contingencies
Area leased in Birmingham (in square feet)	24,090
Building contiguous to home office
Future minimum rental payments required under operating leases
2014	1,236,000
2015	1,236,000
2016	1,239,000
2017	1,236,000
2018	76,211,000
Approximate price for which the company may purchase building at the end of lease term	75,000,000
PROTECTIVE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY \| Administrative and marketing office space
Commitments and contingencies
Number of cities in which the company leases properties	19
Rental expense	11,200,000	11,200,000	10,800,000
Aggregate annualized rent	7,000,000
Future minimum rental payments required under operating leases
2014	6,971,000
2015	5,845,000
2016	3,770,000
2017	1,391,000
2018	750,000
Thereafter	1,978,000
PROTECTIVE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY \| Administrative and marketing office space \| Minimum
Commitments and contingencies
Lease period	3 years
PROTECTIVE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY \| Administrative and marketing office space \| Maximum
Commitments and contingencies
Lease period	10 years
PROTECTIVE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY \| Administrative and Marketing Office Space Birmingham excluding Home Office
Commitments and contingencies
Area leased in Birmingham (in square feet)	24,090
PROTECTIVE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY \| Building contiguous to home office
Future minimum rental payments required under operating leases
2014	1,236,000
2015	1,236,000
2016	1,239,000
2018	76,211,000
Approximate price for which the company may purchase building at the end of lease term	$ 75,000,000