General (Policies)	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Management's responsibility	Management’s responsibility. The accompanying consolidated financial statements were prepared by management, who is responsible for their integrity and objectivity. The financial statements have been prepared in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), including management’s best judgments and estimates. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
Reclassifications	Reclassifications. Certain prior year amounts in these consolidated financial statements have been reclassified for comparative purposes. Net earnings attributable to Stewart and stockholders’ equity, as previously reported, were not affected.
Consolidation	Consolidation. The consolidated financial statements include all subsidiaries in which the Company owns more than 50% voting rights in electing directors. All significant intercompany amounts and transactions have been eliminated and provisions have been made for noncontrolling interests. Unconsolidated investees, in which the Company typically owns 20% through 50% of the entity, are accounted for by the equity method.
Statutory accounting	Statutory accounting. Stewart Title Guaranty Company (Guaranty) and other title insurance underwriters owned by the Company prepare financial statements in accordance with statutory accounting practices prescribed or permitted by regulatory authorities. See Notes 2 and 3. In conforming the statutory financial statements to GAAP, the statutory premium reserve and the reserve for known title losses are eliminated and, in substitution, amounts are established for estimated title losses (Note 1F). The net effect, after providing for income taxes, is included in the consolidated statements of earnings and comprehensive earnings.
Revenue recognition	Revenue recognition. Operating revenues from direct title operations are considered earned at the time of the closing of the related real estate transaction. The Company recognizes premium revenues on title insurance policies written by independent agencies (agencies) when the policies are reported to the Company. In addition, where reasonable estimates can be made, the Company accrues for policies issued but not reported until after period end. The Company believes that reasonable estimates can be made when recent and consistent policy issuance information is available. Estimates are based on historical reporting patterns and other information obtained about agencies, as well as current trends in direct operations and in the title industry. In this accrual, future transactions are not being estimated. The Company is estimating revenues on policies that have already been issued by agencies but not yet reported to or received by the Company. The Company has consistently followed the same basic method of estimating unreported policy revenues for more than 10 years. Revenues generated by the mortgage services segment are generally considered earned at the time the service is performed or the product is delivered to the customer.
Title losses and related claims	Title losses and related claims. The Company’s method for recording the reserves for title losses on both an interim and annual basis begins with the calculation of its current loss provision rate, which is applied to the Company’s current premiums resulting in a title loss expense for the period. This loss provision rate is set to provide for estimated losses on current year policies and is determined using moving average ratios of recent actual policy loss payment experience (net of recoveries) to premium revenues. At each quarter end, the Company’s recorded reserve for title losses begins with the prior period’s reserve balance for claim losses, adds the current period provision to that balance and subtracts actual paid claims, resulting in an amount that management compares to its actuarially-based calculation of the ending reserve balance necessary to provide for future reported title losses. The actuarially-based calculation is a paid loss development calculation where loss development factors are selected based on company data and input from the Company’s third-party actuaries. The Company also obtains input from third-party actuaries in the form of a reserve analysis utilizing generally accepted actuarial methods. While the Company is responsible for determining its loss reserves, it utilizes this actuarial input to assess the overall reasonableness of its reserve estimation. If the Company’s recorded reserve amount is not at the actuarial point estimate, but is within a reasonable range (+/-4.0%) of its actuarially-based reserve calculation and the actuary’s point estimate, the Company’s management assesses the major factors contributing to the different reserve estimates in order to determine the overall reasonableness of its recorded reserve, as well as the position of the recorded reserves relative to the point estimate and the estimated range of reserves. The major factors considered can change from period to period and include items such as current trends in the real estate industry (which management can assess although there is a time lag in the development of this data for use by the actuary), the size and types of claims reported and changes in the Company’s claims management process. If the recorded amount is not within a reasonable range of the Company’s third-party actuary’s point estimate, it will adjust the recorded reserves in the current period and reassess the provision rate on a prospective basis. Once the Company’s reserve for title losses is recorded, it is reduced in future periods as a result of claims payments and may be increased or reduced by revisions to the Company’s estimate of the overall level of required reserves. Large claims (those exceeding $1.0 million on a single claim), including large title losses due to independent agency defalcations, are analyzed and reserved for separately due to the higher dollar amount of loss, lower volume of claims reported and sporadic reporting of such claims. Due to the inherent uncertainty in predicting future title policy losses, significant judgment is required by both the Company’s management and its third party actuaries in estimating reserves. As a consequence, the Company’s ultimate liability may be materially greater or less than its current reserves and/or its third party actuary’s calculated estimate.
Cash equivalents	Cash equivalents. Cash equivalents are highly liquid investments with insignificant interest rate risks and maturities of three months or less at the time of acquisition.
Short-term investments	Short-term investments. Short-term investments comprise time deposits with banks, federal government obligations and other investments maturing in less than one year.
Investments in debt and equity securities	Investments in debt and equity securities. The investment portfolio is classified as available-for-sale. Realized gains and losses on sales of investments are determined using the specific identification method. Net unrealized gains and losses on investments available-for-sale, net of applicable deferred taxes, are included as a component of accumulated other comprehensive earnings within stockholders’ equity. At the time unrealized gains and losses become realized, they are reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive earnings using the specific identification method. Other-than-temporary declines in fair values of investments available-for-sale are charged to earnings.
Property and equipment	Property and equipment. Depreciation is principally computed using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets at the following rates: buildings – 30 to 40 years and furniture and equipment – 3 to 10 years. Maintenance and repairs are expensed as incurred while improvements are capitalized. Gains and losses are recognized at disposal.
Title plants	Title plants. Title plants include compilations of a county’s official land records, prior examination files, copies of prior title policies, maps and related materials that are geographically indexed to a specific property. The costs of acquiring existing title plants and creating new ones, prior to the time such plants are placed in operation, are capitalized. Title plants are not amortized since there is no indication of any loss of value over time but are subject to review for impairment. The costs of maintaining and operating title plants are expensed as incurred. Gains and losses on sales of copies of title plants or interests in title plants are recognized at the time of sale.
Goodwill	Goodwill. Goodwill is the excess of the purchase price over the fair value of identifiable net assets acquired and assumed in a business combination. Goodwill is not amortized but is reviewed for impairment annually and upon the occurrence of an event indicating that a potential impairment may have occurred. If determined to be impaired, the impaired portion is expensed to current operations. The process of determining impairment relies on projections of future cash flows, operating results and market conditions. Uncertainties exist in these projections and are subject to changes relating to factors such as interest rates and overall real estate market conditions. As part of this process, the Company has an option to assess qualitative factors to determine whether it is more-likely-than-not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount. If the Company decides not to use a qualitative assessment or if it fails the qualitative assessment, then the Company obtains input from third-party appraisers regarding the fair value of its reporting units. While the Company is responsible for assessing whether an impairment of goodwill exists, it utilizes the input from third-party appraisers to assess the overall reasonableness of its conclusions. The Company utilized a qualitative assessment for its annual goodwill impairment test for each of its reporting units, except for mortgage services for which it performed a quantitative assessment utilizing its third-party appraiser to determine the fair value of the reporting unit. Based on its analysis, the Company determined it was not likely that the fair value of its reporting units were less than their carrying amounts as of June 30, 2014. There were no impairment write-offs of goodwill during the three years ended December 31, 2014. However, to the extent that the Company’s future operating results are below management’s projections, or in the event of adverse market conditions, a future impairment may occur.
Acquired intangibles	Acquired intangibles. Intangible assets are comprised mainly of non-compete, underwriting and customer relationship agreements and acquired software. Intangible assets are amortized over their estimated lives, which are primarily 3 to 10 years.
Other long-lived assets	Other long-lived assets. The Company reviews the carrying values of title plants and other long-lived assets if certain events occur that may indicate impairment. An impairment of these long-lived assets is indicated when projected undiscounted cash flows over the estimated lives of the assets are less than carrying values. If impairment is indicated, the recorded amounts are written down to fair values. There were no significant impairment write-offs of long-lived assets during the three years ended December 31, 2014. The Company had cost-basis investments aggregating $3.9 million and $5.1 million at December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively. Cost-basis investments are included in other assets on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets and are evaluated periodically for impairment. The Company recorded impairment charges of $1.0 million, $1.0 million and $0.8 million for cost-basis investments during the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively.
Fair values	Fair values. The fair values of financial instruments, including cash and cash equivalents, short-term investments, notes receivable, notes payable and accounts payable, are determined by the exchange price that would be received for an asset or paid to transfer a liability (an exit price) in the principal, or most advantageous, market for the asset or liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. The net fair values of these financial instruments approximate their carrying values, except for the fair value of the Convertible Senior Notes (Notes) on October 14, 2014 (maturity date), the Company exchanged an aggregate $27.2 million of Notes for approximately 2.1 million shares of Common Stock. Investments in debt and equity securities and certain financial instruments are carried at their fair values (Notes 4 and 5).
Leases	Leases. The Company recognizes rent expense under non-cancelable operating leases, which generally expire over the next 10 years, on the straight-line basis over the terms of the leases, including provisions for any free rent periods or escalating lease payments.
Income taxes	Income taxes. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for future tax consequences attributable to differences between the tax basis and the book carrying values of certain assets and liabilities. To the extent that the Company does not believe its deferred tax assets meet the more-likely- than-not realization criteria, it establishes a valuation allowance. When it establishes a valuation allowance, or increases (decreases) the allowance during the year, it records a tax expense (benefit) in its consolidated statements of earnings and comprehensive earnings. Enacted tax rates are used in calculating amounts. The Company provides for uncertainties in income taxes by prescribing a recognition threshold and measurement attribute for the financial statement recognition and measurement of a tax position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return.
Recent Significant Accounting Pronouncements	Recent significant accounting pronouncements. In May 2014, FASB issued ASU No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers. The standard will eliminate the transaction-specific and industry-specific revenue recognition guidance under current GAAP and replace it with a principles-based approach for determining revenue recognition. ASU 2014-09 is effective for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2016 and early application is not permitted. The revenue recognition standard is required to be applied retrospectively, including any combination of practical expedients as allowed in the standard. The Company is evaluating the impact of the adoption of this ASU to its consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.

General (Policies)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2014

Management’s responsibility. The accompanying consolidated financial statements were prepared by management, who is responsible for their integrity and objectivity. The financial statements have been prepared in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), including management’s best judgments and estimates. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Reclassifications

Reclassifications. Certain prior year amounts in these consolidated financial statements have been reclassified for comparative purposes. Net earnings attributable to Stewart and stockholders’ equity, as previously reported, were not affected.

Consolidation

Consolidation. The consolidated financial statements include all subsidiaries in which the Company owns more than 50% voting rights in electing directors. All significant intercompany amounts and transactions have been eliminated and provisions have been made for noncontrolling interests. Unconsolidated investees, in which the Company typically owns 20% through 50% of the entity, are accounted for by the equity method.

Statutory accounting

Statutory accounting. Stewart Title Guaranty Company (Guaranty) and other title insurance underwriters owned by the Company prepare financial statements in accordance with statutory accounting practices prescribed or permitted by regulatory authorities. See Notes 2 and 3.

In conforming the statutory financial statements to GAAP, the statutory premium reserve and the reserve for known title losses are eliminated and, in substitution, amounts are established for estimated title losses (Note 1F). The net effect, after providing for income taxes, is included in the consolidated statements of earnings and comprehensive earnings.

Revenue recognition

Revenue recognition. Operating revenues from direct title operations are considered earned at the time of the closing of the related real estate transaction. The Company recognizes premium revenues on title insurance policies written by independent agencies (agencies) when the policies are reported to the Company. In addition, where reasonable estimates can be made, the Company accrues for policies issued but not reported until after period end. The Company believes that reasonable estimates can be made when recent and consistent policy issuance information is available. Estimates are based on historical reporting patterns and other information obtained about agencies, as well as current trends in direct operations and in the title industry. In this accrual, future transactions are not being estimated. The Company is estimating revenues on policies that have already been issued by agencies but not yet reported to or received by the Company. The Company has consistently followed the same basic method of estimating unreported policy revenues for more than 10 years.

Revenues generated by the mortgage services segment are generally considered earned at the time the service is performed or the product is delivered to the customer.

Title losses and related claims

Title losses and related claims. The Company’s method for recording the reserves for title losses on both an interim and annual basis begins with the calculation of its current loss provision rate, which is applied to the Company’s current premiums resulting in a title loss expense for the period. This loss provision rate is set to provide for estimated losses on current year policies and is determined using moving average ratios of recent actual policy loss payment experience (net of recoveries) to premium revenues.

At each quarter end, the Company’s recorded reserve for title losses begins with the prior period’s reserve balance for claim losses, adds the current period provision to that balance and subtracts actual paid claims, resulting in an amount that management compares to its actuarially-based calculation of the ending reserve balance necessary to provide for future reported title losses. The actuarially-based calculation is a paid loss development calculation where loss development factors are selected based on company data and input from the Company’s third-party actuaries. The Company also obtains input from third-party actuaries in the form of a reserve analysis utilizing generally accepted actuarial methods. While the Company is responsible for determining its loss reserves, it utilizes this actuarial input to assess the overall reasonableness of its reserve estimation. If the Company’s recorded reserve amount is not at the actuarial point estimate, but is within a reasonable range (+/-4.0%) of its actuarially-based reserve calculation and the actuary’s point estimate, the Company’s management assesses the major factors contributing to the different reserve estimates in order to determine the overall reasonableness of its recorded reserve, as well as the position of the recorded reserves relative to the point estimate and the estimated range of reserves. The major factors considered can change from period to period and include items such as current trends in the real estate industry (which management can assess although there is a time lag in the development of this data for use by the actuary), the size and types of claims reported and changes in the Company’s claims management process. If the recorded amount is not within a reasonable range of the Company’s third-party actuary’s point estimate, it will adjust the recorded reserves in the current period and reassess the provision rate on a prospective basis. Once the Company’s reserve for title losses is recorded, it is reduced in future periods as a result of claims payments and may be increased or reduced by revisions to the Company’s estimate of the overall level of required reserves.

Large claims (those exceeding $1.0 million on a single claim), including large title losses due to independent agency defalcations, are analyzed and reserved for separately due to the higher dollar amount of loss, lower volume of claims reported and sporadic reporting of such claims.

Due to the inherent uncertainty in predicting future title policy losses, significant judgment is required by both the Company’s management and its third party actuaries in estimating reserves. As a consequence, the Company’s ultimate liability may be materially greater or less than its current reserves and/or its third party actuary’s calculated estimate.

Cash equivalents

Cash equivalents. Cash equivalents are highly liquid investments with insignificant interest rate risks and maturities of three months or less at the time of acquisition.

Short-term investments

Short-term investments. Short-term investments comprise time deposits with banks, federal government obligations and other investments maturing in less than one year.

Investments in debt and equity securities

Investments in debt and equity securities. The investment portfolio is classified as available-for-sale. Realized gains and losses on sales of investments are determined using the specific identification method. Net unrealized gains and losses on investments available-for-sale, net of applicable deferred taxes, are included as a component of accumulated other comprehensive earnings within stockholders’ equity. At the time unrealized gains and losses become realized, they are reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive earnings using the specific identification method. Other-than-temporary declines in fair values of investments available-for-sale are charged to earnings.

Property and equipment

Property and equipment. Depreciation is principally computed using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets at the following rates: buildings – 30 to 40 years and furniture and equipment – 3 to 10 years. Maintenance and repairs are expensed as incurred while improvements are capitalized. Gains and losses are recognized at disposal.

Title plants

Title plants. Title plants include compilations of a county’s official land records, prior examination files, copies of prior title policies, maps and related materials that are geographically indexed to a specific property. The costs of acquiring existing title plants and creating new ones, prior to the time such plants are placed in operation, are capitalized. Title plants are not amortized since there is no indication of any loss of value over time but are subject to review for impairment. The costs of maintaining and operating title plants are expensed as incurred. Gains and losses on sales of copies of title plants or interests in title plants are recognized at the time of sale.

Goodwill

Goodwill. Goodwill is the excess of the purchase price over the fair value of identifiable net assets acquired and assumed in a business combination. Goodwill is not amortized but is reviewed for impairment annually and upon the occurrence of an event indicating that a potential impairment may have occurred. If determined to be impaired, the impaired portion is expensed to current operations. The process of determining impairment relies on projections of future cash flows, operating results and market conditions. Uncertainties exist in these projections and are subject to changes relating to factors such as interest rates and overall real estate market conditions. As part of this process, the Company has an option to assess qualitative factors to determine whether it is more-likely-than-not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount. If the Company decides not to use a qualitative assessment or if it fails the qualitative assessment, then the Company obtains input from third-party appraisers regarding the fair value of its reporting units. While the Company is responsible for assessing whether an impairment of goodwill exists, it utilizes the input from third-party appraisers to assess the overall reasonableness of its conclusions. The Company utilized a qualitative assessment for its annual goodwill impairment test for each of its reporting units, except for mortgage services for which it performed a quantitative assessment utilizing its third-party appraiser to determine the fair value of the reporting unit. Based on its analysis, the Company determined it was not likely that the fair value of its reporting units were less than their carrying amounts as of June 30, 2014. There were no impairment write-offs of goodwill during the three years ended December 31, 2014. However, to the extent that the Company’s future operating results are below management’s projections, or in the event of adverse market conditions, a future impairment may occur.

Acquired intangibles

Acquired intangibles. Intangible assets are comprised mainly of non-compete, underwriting and customer relationship agreements and acquired software. Intangible assets are amortized over their estimated lives, which are primarily 3 to 10 years.

Other long-lived assets

Other long-lived assets. The Company reviews the carrying values of title plants and other long-lived assets if certain events occur that may indicate impairment. An impairment of these long-lived assets is indicated when projected undiscounted cash flows over the estimated lives of the assets are less than carrying values. If impairment is indicated, the recorded amounts are written down to fair values. There were no significant impairment write-offs of long-lived assets during the three years ended December 31, 2014.

The Company had cost-basis investments aggregating $3.9 million and $5.1 million at December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively. Cost-basis investments are included in other assets on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets and are evaluated periodically for impairment. The Company recorded impairment charges of $1.0 million, $1.0 million and $0.8 million for cost-basis investments during the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively.

Fair values

Fair values. The fair values of financial instruments, including cash and cash equivalents, short-term investments, notes receivable, notes payable and accounts payable, are determined by the exchange price that would be received for an asset or paid to transfer a liability (an exit price) in the principal, or most advantageous, market for the asset or liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. The net fair values of these financial instruments approximate their carrying values, except for the fair value of the Convertible Senior Notes (Notes) on October 14, 2014 (maturity date), the Company exchanged an aggregate $27.2 million of Notes for approximately 2.1 million shares of Common Stock. Investments in debt and equity securities and certain financial instruments are carried at their fair values (Notes 4 and 5).

Leases

Leases. The Company recognizes rent expense under non-cancelable operating leases, which generally expire over the next 10 years, on the straight-line basis over the terms of the leases, including provisions for any free rent periods or escalating lease payments.

Income taxes

Income taxes. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for future tax consequences attributable to differences between the tax basis and the book carrying values of certain assets and liabilities. To the extent that the Company does not believe its deferred tax assets meet the more-likely- than-not realization criteria, it establishes a valuation allowance. When it establishes a valuation allowance, or increases (decreases) the allowance during the year, it records a tax expense (benefit) in its consolidated statements of earnings and comprehensive earnings. Enacted tax rates are used in calculating amounts.

The Company provides for uncertainties in income taxes by prescribing a recognition threshold and measurement attribute for the financial statement recognition and measurement of a tax position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return.

Recent Significant Accounting Pronouncements

Recent significant accounting pronouncements. In May 2014, FASB issued ASU No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers. The standard will eliminate the transaction-specific and industry-specific revenue recognition guidance under current GAAP and replace it with a principles-based approach for determining revenue recognition. ASU 2014-09 is effective for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2016 and early application is not permitted. The revenue recognition standard is required to be applied retrospectively, including any combination of practical expedients as allowed in the standard. The Company is evaluating the impact of the adoption of this ASU to its consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.