Schedule II - VALUATION AND QUALIFYING ACCOUNTS (Detail) - Stewart Information Services Corporation and subsidiaries - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Estimated title losses
Movement in Valuation Allowances and Reserves
Balance at beginning of period	$ 495,395	$ 506,888	$ 520,375
Additions charged to costs and expenses	106,265	81,305	106,318
Additions charged to other accounts	0	2,268	0
Deductions	139,038	95,066	119,805
Balance At end of period	462,622	495,395	506,888
Valuation allowance for deferred tax assets
Movement in Valuation Allowances and Reserves
Balance at beginning of period	2,564	6,971	12,136
Additions charged to costs and expenses	(347)	(4,407)	(5,165)
Additions charged to other accounts	0	0	0
Balance At end of period	2,217	2,564	6,971
Allowance for uncollectible amounts
Movement in Valuation Allowances and Reserves
Balance at beginning of period	9,193	9,871	12,823
Additions charged to costs and expenses	3,396	1,977	2,063
Additions charged to other accounts	0	0	0
Deductions	2,756	2,655	5,015
Balance At end of period	$ 9,833	$ 9,193	$ 9,871