Segment Reporting (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2012 item	Jun. 30, 2011 item
Segment Reporting
Number of major business segments			2	2
Summarized information by segment
Revenues	$ 14,294	$ 16,918	$ 34,081	$ 37,695
Costs and expenses	(14,253)	(14,785)	(28,201)	(28,996)
Equity income (loss) from unconsolidated subsidiaries	2,081	3,283	6,548	5,154
Gain on business combinations	935	278	935	278
Gain on sale of subsidiaries				5
Income tax (expense) benefit	(5)	(1,024)	(838)	(1,626)
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(1,565)	(2,242)	(2,673)	(6,357)
Net earnings attributable to FirstCity	1,487	2,428	9,852	6,153
Portfolio Asset Acquisition and Resolution
Summarized information by segment
Revenues	11,862	14,547	29,036	33,096
Costs and expenses	(9,430)	(10,879)	(18,592)	(21,568)
Equity income (loss) from unconsolidated subsidiaries	1,790	1,661	6,322	3,380
Gain on business combinations		278		278
Gain on sale of subsidiaries				5
Income tax (expense) benefit	54	(1,216)	(708)	(1,782)
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(1,184)	(1,787)	(2,137)	(5,820)
Net earnings attributable to FirstCity	3,092	2,604	13,921	7,589
Special Situations Platform
Summarized information by segment
Revenues	2,332	2,323	4,860	4,519
Costs and expenses	(2,556)	(1,836)	(4,429)	(3,630)
Equity income (loss) from unconsolidated subsidiaries	291	1,622	226	1,774
Gain on business combinations	935		935
Income tax (expense) benefit	(9)	(34)	(29)	(33)
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(381)	(455)	(536)	(537)
Net earnings attributable to FirstCity	612	1,620	1,027	2,093
Special Situations Platform | Minimum
Segment reporting
Investments repayment or exit period (in months)			12 months
Special Situations Platform | Maximum
Segment reporting
Investments repayment or exit period (in months)			60 months
Corporate and Other
Summarized information by segment
Revenues	100	48	185	80
Costs and expenses	(2,267)	(2,070)	(5,180)	(3,798)
Income tax (expense) benefit	(50)	226	(101)	189
Net earnings attributable to FirstCity	$ (2,217)	$ (1,796)	$ (5,096)	$ (3,529)