Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Reconciliation of net earnings (loss) to cash provided (used) by operating activities:
Net earnings (loss)	$ 8,678	$ (5,150)	$ (42,431)
Add (deduct):
Depreciation and amortization	19,542	21,422	28,064
Provision for bad debt	1,318	4,186	6,526
Investment and other (gains) - net	(2,302)	(21,782)	(7,366)
Provisions for title losses in excess of (less than) payments	2,383	(14,694)	31,276
Insurance recoveries of title losses	5,082	8,260	2,174
(Increase) decrease in receivables - net	(6,748)	46,642	(24,833)
(Increase) decrease in other assets - net	(189)	308	540
Decrease in payables and accrued liabilities - net	(5,602)	(11,871)	(13,203)
(Decrease) increase in net deferred income taxes	(1,212)	10,544	(1,230)
Net earnings from equity investees	(1,710)	(2,427)	(3,134)
Dividends received from equity investees	2,524	2,996	2,916
Other - net	1,645	2,760	3,385
Cash provided (used) by operating activities	23,409	41,194	(16,952)
Investing activities:
Proceeds from investments available-for-sale matured and sold	339,697	328,460	477,089
Purchases of investments available-for-sale	(336,118)	(303,517)	(369,366)
Proceeds from redemptions of investments - pledged		217,225	24,300
Purchases of property and equipment, title plants and real estate - net	(17,704)	(16,339)	(11,032)
Proceeds from the sale of land and buildings		6,425
Increases in notes receivable	(291)	(1,109)	(1,214)
Collections on notes receivable	721	1,001	654
Change in cash and cash equivalents due to sale and deconsolidation of subsidiaries (see below)		(1,873)
Cash paid for acquisition of subsidiary	(8,262)
Cash paid for loan guarantee obligation	(4,318)
Cash (paid) received for other assets, cost-basis investments, equity investees and other - net	(2,944)	4,887	9,759
Cash (used) provided by investing activities	(29,219)	235,160	130,190
Financing activities:
Payments on notes payable	(5,988)	(16,294)	(117,190)
Proceeds from notes payable	6,000	5,834	433
Payments on line of credit		(216,141)	(24,962)
Proceeds from issuance of convertible senior notes			65,000
Payments for debt issuance costs related to convertible senior notes			(3,299)
Cash dividends paid	(917)	(868)	(861)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(6,142)	(7,122)	(7,775)
Purchase of remaining interest of consolidated subsidiary		(4,199)
Other - net	13		57
Cash used by financing activities	(7,034)	(238,790)	(88,597)
Effects of changes in foreign currency exchange rates	(803)	826	5,213
(Decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents	(13,647)	38,390	29,854
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year	154,490	116,100	86,246
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year	140,843	154,490	116,100
Supplemental information:
Settlement of wage and hour litigation through issuance of Common Stock	7,582
Settlement of note payable through issuance of Common Stock held in treasury	1,299
Changes in financial statement amounts due to purchase of subsidiary:
Goodwill acquired	7,631
Receivables and other assets acquired	5,672
Intangible assets	1,988
Liabilities acquired	(3,779)
Debt assumed	(3,250)
Cash paid for the acquisition of subsidiaries and other - net	8,262
Changes in financial statement amounts due to sale and deconsolidation of subsidiaries:
Note receivable		2,433
Investments in investees, on an equity method basis		5,315
Goodwill		(5,902)
Title plants		(1,048)
Property and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation		(1,564)
Intangible asset, net of amortization		2,928
Other - net		(814)
Liabilities		1,390
Noncontrolling interests		336
Investment and other (gains) losses - net		(1,201)
Change in cash and cash equivalents due to sale and deconsolidation of subsidiaries		1,873
Income taxes - net paid (refunded)	19,259	(41,528)	(16,831)
Interest paid	$ 4,557	$ 4,775	$ 2,576