XML 20 R50.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT v2.4.1.9
Subsequent Events Subsequent Events (Details) (USD $)
Mar. 31, 2015
Dec. 31, 2014
Jun. 20, 2008
Jun. 25, 2004
Apr. 06, 2015
Common Class A [Member]          
Subsequent Event [Line Items]          
Common stock, par value $ 1.00us-gaap_CommonStockParOrStatedValuePerShare
/ us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis
= us-gaap_CommonClassAMember
$ 1us-gaap_CommonStockParOrStatedValuePerShare
/ us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis
= us-gaap_CommonClassAMember
$ 1.00us-gaap_CommonStockParOrStatedValuePerShare
/ us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis
= us-gaap_CommonClassAMember
$ 1.00us-gaap_CommonStockParOrStatedValuePerShare
/ us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis
= us-gaap_CommonClassAMember
 
Common Class B [Member]          
Subsequent Event [Line Items]          
Common stock, par value $ 1.00us-gaap_CommonStockParOrStatedValuePerShare
/ us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis
= us-gaap_CommonClassBMember
$ 1us-gaap_CommonStockParOrStatedValuePerShare
/ us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis
= us-gaap_CommonClassBMember
     
Newco Merger [Member] | Common Class A [Member] | Subsequent Event [Member]          
Subsequent Event [Line Items]          
Common stock, par value         $ 0.01us-gaap_CommonStockParOrStatedValuePerShare
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= nwli_NewcoMergerMember
/ us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis
= us-gaap_CommonClassAMember
/ us-gaap_SubsequentEventTypeAxis
= us-gaap_SubsequentEventMember
Newco Merger [Member] | Common Class B [Member] | Subsequent Event [Member]          
Subsequent Event [Line Items]          
Common stock, par value         $ 0.01us-gaap_CommonStockParOrStatedValuePerShare
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= nwli_NewcoMergerMember
/ us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis
= us-gaap_CommonClassBMember
/ us-gaap_SubsequentEventTypeAxis
= us-gaap_SubsequentEventMember