Schedule II - Valuation and Qualifying Accounts (Detail) - Stewart Information Services Corporation and subsidiaries - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Estimated title losses
Movement in Valuation Allowances and Reserves
Balance at beginning of period	$ 462,622	$ 495,395	$ 506,888
Additions charged to costs and expenses	91,147	106,265	81,305
Additions charged to other accounts	0	0	2,268
Deductions	91,197	139,038	95,066
Balance At end of period	462,572	462,622	495,395
Valuation allowance for deferred tax assets
Movement in Valuation Allowances and Reserves
Balance at beginning of period	2,217	2,564	6,971
Additions charged to costs and expenses	240	(347)	(4,407)
Additions charged to other accounts	0	0	0
Balance At end of period	2,457	2,217	2,564
Allowance for uncollectible amounts
Movement in Valuation Allowances and Reserves
Balance at beginning of period	9,833	9,193	9,871
Additions charged to costs and expenses	3,349	3,396	1,977
Additions charged to other accounts	0	0	0
Deductions	3,535	2,756	2,655
Balance At end of period	$ 9,647	$ 9,833	$ 9,193