Schedule I - Statements of Cash Flows (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Reconciliation of net earnings to cash used by operating activities:
Net earnings attributable to Stewart	$ 29,753	$ 63,026	$ 109,182
Add (deduct):
Depreciation and amortization	24,226	17,920	17,783
Provision for bad debt	1,371	2,170	3,201
Other losses	(6,744)	1,066	(7,578)
(Increase) decrease in receivables – net	9,397	(5,796)	(16,133)
(Increase) decrease in other assets – net	(1,878)	(1,467)	(2,779)
Increase in payables and accrued liabilities – net	(6,854)	(8,100)	29,278
Earnings from subsidiaries	(3,442)	(4,137)	(4,253)
Other – net	448	281	294
Cash provided by operating activities	63,989	87,187	120,522
Investing activities:
Collections on notes receivables	386	2,666	959
Cash used by investing activities	(78,557)	(78,363)	(36,528)
Payments on notes payable	120,273	11,146	450
Financing activities:
Repurchases of Common Stock	(22,048)	0	0
Cash provided (used) by financing activities	26,026	(18,196)	(18,120)
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	6,269	(14,249)	67,695
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year	194,289	208,538	140,843
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year	200,558	194,289	208,538
Supplemental information:
Income taxes (refunded) paid	(106)	18,032	6,747
Interest paid	2,616	2,202	4,427
Stewart Information Services Corporation - Parent Company
Reconciliation of net earnings to cash used by operating activities:
Net earnings attributable to Stewart	29,753	63,026	109,182
Add (deduct):
Depreciation and amortization	421	527	802
Provision for bad debt	(2)	(1)	(1)
Other losses	869	3,164	3,358
(Increase) decrease in receivables – net	(46,850)	(95)	433
(Increase) decrease in other assets – net	(828)	2,413	(229)
Increase in payables and accrued liabilities – net	12,395	3,335	16,747
Earnings from subsidiaries	(12,837)	(70,210)	(123,898)
Other – net	(31,822)	(3,944)	1,899
Cash provided by operating activities	(48,901)	(1,785)	8,293
Proceeds from Dividends Received	25,000	0	0
Investing activities:
Proceeds from the sale of property and equipment –net	0	5	1,593
Collections on notes receivables	0	1	1
Contributions to subsidiaries	0	0	(1,500)
Cash used by investing activities	25,000	6	94
Payments on notes payable	60,000	0	0
Financing activities:
Dividends paid	(2,334)	(2,159)	(1,832)
Repurchases of Common Stock	(22,048)	0	0
Purchase of remaining interest of consolidated subsidiary	(321)	(1,442)	0
Settlement of convertible debt	0	(1,149)	0
Cash provided (used) by financing activities	35,297	(4,750)	(1,832)
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	11,396	(6,529)	6,555
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year	4,196	10,725	4,170
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year	15,592	4,196	10,725
Supplemental information:
Income taxes (refunded) paid	(4,343)	773	149
Interest paid	$ 546	$ 4	$ 0