Accounting Policies (Details Textual) (USD $)	12 Months Ended													1 Months Ended			12 Months Ended				1 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009	Jan. 01, 2008	Jan. 01, 2007	Jan. 01, 2006	Jul. 01, 2004	Jul. 01, 2003	Dec. 31, 2012 E&S Commercial Business Unit and Republic [Member]	Jan. 01, 2008 E&S Commercial Business Unit and Republic [Member]	Jan. 01, 2007 E&S Commercial Business Unit and Republic [Member]	Jan. 01, 2006 E&S Commercial Business Unit and Republic [Member]	Jun. 30, 2009 Excess and Umbrella Business Unit [Member]	Jun. 21, 2005 Hallmark Statutory Trust I [Member]	Aug. 23, 2007 Hallmark Statutory Trust II [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Minimum [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Maximum [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Subordinated Debt [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Subordinated Debt [Member]	Jun. 21, 2005 Subordinated Debt [Member] Hallmark Statutory Trust I [Member]	Aug. 23, 2007 Subordinated Debt [Member] Hallmark Statutory Trust II [Member]
Trust Preferred Securities, Carrying Value																			$ 56,700,000	$ 56,700,000
Trust Preferred Securities, Fair Value																			48,200,000	49,100,000
Current Yield to Maturity, Percentage	9.20%																		8.00%	8.00%
Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs, Additions	62,200,000	49,400,000	56,900,000
Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs, Amortized	59,800,000	47,800,000	55,900,000
Deferred Policy Acquisition Cost, Amortization Expense	2,400,000	1,600,000	1,000,000
Property, Plant and Equipment, Net	13,600,000	13,500,000
Property, Plant and Equipment, Estimated Useful Lives																	3 Years	10 Years
Property, Plant and Equipment, Depreciation Methods		straight-line method
Depreciation	1,200,000	1,500,000	1,100,000
Accumulated Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization, Property, Plant, and Equipment	11,400,000	10,500,000
Proceeds from Issuance of Trust Preferred Securities															30,000,000	25,000,000					30,900,000	25,800,000
Noncontrolling Interest, Ownership Percentage by Parent	20.00%
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	1,700,000
Accounts Payable and Accrued Liabilities, Fair Value Disclosure	1,700,000
Premiums Earned, Net, Other Insurance	11,800,000	13,500,000	13,300,000
Percentage of Assumed Risk from Third Party Insurer														35.00%
Profit Sharing Payable						600,000	200,000		1,300,000
Profit Sharing Receivable					200,000			1,800,000
Provisional Loss Ratio										62.50%	65.00%	65.00%	65.00%
Estimated Ultimate Loss Ratio										50.70%	58.80%	62.40%	58.30%
Retained earnings	97,964,000	94,440,000	105,800,000	98,500,000
Retained Earnings Reduced		600,000	500,000	600,000
Retained Earnings Restated Balance		94,400,000	105,300,000	97,900,000
Decrease In Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs		900,000	700,000	900,000
Increase (Decrease) in Deferred Income Taxes		$ 300,000	$ 200,000	$ 300,000