Condensed Consolidated Statements of Earnings and Comprehensive Earnings (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011
Title insurance:
Direct operations	$ 189,155	$ 164,411	$ 528,364	$ 469,482
Agency operations	281,587	228,350	729,047	633,988
Real estate information	43,098	22,494	116,059	76,443
Investment income	3,669	4,287	10,204	12,029
Investment and other gains (losses) - net	3,232	(1,013)	5,766	(2,115)
Total revenues	520,741	418,529	1,389,440	1,189,827
Expenses
Amounts retained by agencies	231,765	188,355	601,327	524,103
Employee costs	138,236	114,461	397,559	348,973
Other operating expenses	71,202	66,717	206,493	190,093
Title losses and related claims	34,541	35,200	104,041	101,384
Depreciation and amortization	4,336	4,751	13,423	14,343
Interest	1,297	1,356	3,947	3,928
Total expenses	481,377	410,840	1,326,790	1,182,824
Earnings before taxes and noncontrolling interests	39,364	7,689	62,650	7,003
Income tax expense	2,268	1,381	8,266	2,570
Net earnings	37,096	6,308	54,384	4,433
Less net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests	2,428	1,766	6,962	4,244
Net earnings attributable to Stewart	34,668	4,542	47,422	189
Other comprehensive earnings:
Foreign currency translation	6,022	(6,816)	5,544	(3,547)
Change in unrealized gains	6,753	8,794	15,527	12,155
Reclassification of adjustment for gains included in net earnings	(1,274)	(236)	(2,820)	(1,980)
Other comprehensive earnings, before taxes	11,501	1,742	18,251	6,628
Income tax expense (benefit) related to items of other comprehensive earnings	3,739	(2,681)	6,031	214
Other comprehensive earnings, net of taxes	7,762	4,423	12,220	6,414
Comprehensive earnings attributable to Stewart	$ 42,430	$ 8,965	$ 59,642	$ 6,603
Basic average shares outstanding (000)	19,309	19,234	19,288	19,095
Basic earnings per share attributable to Stewart	$ 1.80	$ 0.24	$ 2.46	$ 0.01
Dilutive average shares outstanding (000)	24,399	24,344	24,378	19,095
Diluted earnings per share attributable to Stewart	$ 1.45	$ 0.22	$ 2.04	$ 0.01