Document and Entity Information [Abstract] Revenues Revenues [Abstract] Title Insurance [Abstract] Title insurance: Direct Operations Direct operations Direct operations Agency Operations Agency operations Agency operations Real Estate Information Real estate information Real estate information Investment income Net Investment Income Gain (Loss) on Investments Investment and other losses (gains) - net Gain (Loss) on Investments, Total Investment and other (losses) gains - net Expenses Benefits, Losses and Expenses [Abstract] Employee costs Labor and Related Expense Other operating expenses Other Cost and Expense, Operating Depreciation and amortization Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization, Nonproduction Interest Interest Expense Interest Net Income (Loss), Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest Net loss Net earnings (loss) Net earnings (loss) Net Loss Comprehensive earnings (loss): Comprehensive Income, Net of Tax, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest [Abstract] Tax effects on other comprehensive income Tax effects on other comprehensive income Other comprehensive earnings, net of taxes of $4,060, $2,916, $6,929 and $997 Assets Assets [Abstract] Short-term investments Other Short-term Investments Investments in Debt and Equity Securities [Abstract] Investments in debt and equity securities available-for-sale, at fair value: Statutory reserve funds Restricted Investments Receivables: Premiums and Other Receivables, Net [Abstract] Notes Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable, Gross Premiums from agencies Premiums Receivable, Gross Income taxes Income Taxes Receivable Premiums and Other Receivables, Net Total receivables Property and equipment, at cost Property, Plant and Equipment, Net [Abstract] Land Land Buildings Buildings and Improvements, Gross Title Plants At Cost Title plants, at cost Title plants, at cost Investments in investees, on an equity method basis Equity Method Investments Goodwill Goodwill Other assets Other Assets Total assets Assets Liabilities Liabilities [Abstract] Notes payable Other Notes Payable Convertible senior notes Convertible Notes Payable Accounts payable and accrued liabilities Accounts Payable and Accrued Liabilities Deferred income taxes Deferred Income Tax Liabilities Deferred income taxes Stockholders' equity Stockholders' Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest [Abstract] Common and Class B Common Stock and additional paid-in capital Common Stock, Including Additional Paid in Capital Retained earnings Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit) Accumulated other comprehensive earnings Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax Treasury stock at cost Treasury stock, common shares Treasury stock - 476,227 common shares, at cost Noncontrolling interests Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest Noncontrolling interests Total stockholders' equity, shares outstanding Total stockholders' equity (18,373,918 and 18,231,781 shares outstanding) Total stockholders' equity, shares outstanding Total liabilities and stockholder's equity Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity Total liabilities and stockholder's equity Add (deduct): Adjustments to Reconcile Net Income (Loss) to Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities [Abstract] Provision for bad debt Provision for Doubtful Accounts Insurance Recoveries Of Title Losses Insurance recoveries of title losses Insurance recoveries of title losses Increase (Decrease) in Receivables Decrease in receivables - net Increase (Decrease) in Receivables, Total Decrease in receivables - net Decrease in payables and accrued liabilities - net Increase (Decrease) in Accounts Payable and Accrued Liabilities Dividends received from equity investees Equity Method Investment, Dividends or Distributions Investing activities: Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities [Abstract] Proceeds from investments available-for-sale matured and sold Proceeds from Sale and Maturity of Available-for-sale Securities Purchases of investments available-for-sale Payments to Acquire Available-for-sale Securities Purchases of investments available-for-sale Payments to Acquire Productive Assets Purchases of property and equipment and title plants - net Purchases of property and equipment, real estate and title plants - net Increases in notes receivable Payments to Acquire Notes Receivable Increases in notes receivable Collections on notes receivable Proceeds from Collection of Notes Receivable Financing activities: Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities [Abstract] Payments on notes payable Repayments of Notes Payable Payments on notes payable Payments on line of credit Repayments of Lines of Credit Payments on line of credit Proceeds from notes payable Proceeds from Notes Payable Distributions to noncontrolling interests Payments to Noncontrolling Interests Distributions to noncontrolling interests Supplemental information: Supplemental Cash Flow Information [Abstract] Changes In Financial Statement Amounts Due To Sale And Deconsolidation Of Subsidiaries [Abstract] Changes in financial statement amounts due to sale and deconsolidation of subsidiaries: Note Receivable Note receivable Note receivable Investments In Investees On Equity Method Basis Changes In Financial Statement Amounts Due To Sale And Deconsolidation Of Subsidiaries Investments in investees, on an equity method basis Investments in investees, on an equity method basis Goodwill Changes In Financial Statement Amounts Due To Sale And Deconsolidation Of Subsidiaries Goodwill Goodwill Title Plants Title plants Title plants Property And Equipment Net Of Accumulated Depreciation Property and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation Property and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation Intangible Asset Net Of Amortization Intangible asset, net of amortization Intangible asset, net of amortization Other Net Other - net Other - net Liability Liabilities Liabilities Noncontrolling Interests Noncontrolling interests Noncontrolling interests Investment And Other Gains Losses Net Changes In Financial Statement Amounts Due To Sale And Deconsolidation Of Subsidiaries Investment and other (gains) losses - net Investment and other gains - net Investment and other (gains) losses - net Interim financial statements Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements Disclosure [Text Block] Fair value measurements Fair Value Disclosures [Text Block] Investment income Investment Income [Text Block] Investment Income [Abstract] Investment income [Abstract] Share-based incentives Disclosure of Compensation Related Costs, Share-based Payments [Text Block] Share-Based Incentives [Abstract] Share-based incentives [Abstract] Earnings per share Earnings Per Share [Text Block] Earnings Per Share [Abstract] Earnings per share [Abstract] Contingent liabilities and commitments Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Text Block] Contingent Liabilities and Commitments [Abstract] Contingent liabilities and commitments [Abstract] Segment information Segment Reporting Disclosure [Text Block] Segment Information [Abstract] Segment information [Abstract] Regulatory And Legal Developments [Text Block] Regulatory and legal developments Regulatory and legal developments Regulatory and Legal Developments [Abstract] Regulatory and legal developments [Abstract] Amendment Flag Current Fiscal Year End Date Document Period End Date Document Type Entity Central Index Key Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding Entity Current Reporting Status Entity Filer Category Entity Registrant Name Entity Voluntary Filers Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer Entity Public Float Document Fiscal Period Focus Document Fiscal Year Focus Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets [Abstract] Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows [Abstract] Statement [Table] Class of Stock [Axis] Class of Stock [Domain] Common Stock [Member] Common Class B [Member] Statement [Line Items] Commitments and Contingencies Contingent liabilities and commitments Other - net Other Noncash Income (Expense) Other Noncash Income (Expense), Total Other - net Earnings Per Share, Basic and Diluted Earnings Per Share, Basic and Diluted, Total Investments in Debt and Marketable Equity Securities (and Certain Trading Assets) Disclosure [Text Block] Investments in debt and equity securities Interim Financial Statements [Abstract] Other Investments In Debt And Equity Securities Available For Sale Other Other Investments In Debt And Equity Securities Available For Sale. Revenues Total revenues Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent Stockholders' equity attributable to Stewart Stockholders' equity attributable to Stewart Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities Cash used by financing activities Available-for-sale Securities Property, Plant and Equipment, Net Benefits, Losses and Expenses Effect of Exchange Rate on Cash and Cash Equivalents Effects of changes in foreign currency exchange rates Comprehensive Income, Net of Tax, Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest Less comprehensive earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents Cash and cash equivalents - statutory reserve funds Accumulated Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization, Property, Plant, and Equipment Accumulated depreciation Accumulated depreciation Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest Less net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests Less net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests Allowance for Doubtful Accounts, Premiums and Other Receivables Allowance for uncollectible amounts Allowance for uncollectible amounts Insurance Commissions Amounts retained by agencies Policyholder Benefits and Claims Incurred, Net Policyholder Benefits and Claims Incurred, Net, Total Title losses and related claims Furniture and Fixtures, Gross Furniture and equipment Real Estate Held-for-sale Real estate, at lower of cost or net realizable value Intangible Assets, Net (Excluding Goodwill) Intangible Assets, Net (Excluding Goodwill), Total Intangible assets, net of amortization Reserve for Losses and Loss Adjustment Expenses Estimated title losses Proceeds from Sale of Restricted Investments Proceeds from redemptions of investments - pledged Liabilities Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Income Taxes, Extraordinary Items, Noncontrolling Interest Cash And Cash Equivalents Cash and equivalents excluding restricted cash. Cash and cash equivalents Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Diluted Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Diluted, Total Dilutive average shares outstanding (000) Earnings Per Share, Diluted Earnings Per Share, Diluted, Total Diluted earnings (loss) per share attributable to Stewart Earnings (loss) before taxes and noncontrolling interests Available for sale securities total Total receivables Total property and equipment, at cost Total assets Total Liabilities Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities [Abstract] Reconciliation of net loss to cash provided by operating activities: Total revenues Total expenses Increase (Decrease) in Other Operating Assets Increase in other assets - net (Increase) decrease in other assets - net Stock Issued Settlement of wage and hour litigation through issuance of common stock Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss [Abstract] Fair Value Measurements [Abstract] Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Basic Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Basic, Total Basic average shares outstanding (000) Cash and Cash Equivalents, at Carrying Value Cash and cash equivalents at end of period Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period Cash and cash equivalents at carrying value Cash and cash equivalents at carrying value Comprehensive Income, Net of Tax, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest Comprehensive earnings (loss) Comprehensive earnings (loss) Cash and Cash Equivalents, Period Increase (Decrease) (Decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents (Decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents Cash Divested from Deconsolidation Change in cash and cash equivalents due to sale and deconsolidation of subsidiaries Change in cash and cash equivalents due to sale and deconsolidation of subsidiaries Change in Cash and Cash Equivalents Due to Sale and Deconsolidation of Subsidiaries Change in cash and cash equivalents due to sale and deconsolidation of subsidiaries (see below) Change in cash and cash equivalents due to sale and deconsolidation of subsidiaries (see below) Reduction in cash and equivalents due to sale or deconsolidation of subsidiaries. Income Tax Expense (Benefit) Income tax (benefit) expense Income tax (benefit) expense Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Parent Net earnings (loss) attributable to Stewart Net earnings( loss) attributable to Stewart Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax Other comprehensive earnings, net of taxes of $4,060, $2,916, $6,929 and $997 Other comprehensive earnings, net of taxes of $1,734 $1,385, $2,895 and $2,869 Comprehensive Income, Net of Tax, Attributable to Parent Comprehensive earnings (loss) attributable to Stewart Comprehensive earnings (loss) attributable to Stewart Settlement of note payable through issuance of Common Stock held in treasury Settlement of note payable through issuance of Common Stock held in treasury. Settlement of note payable through issuance of Common Stock held in treasury Increase (Decrease) in Other Accounts Payable and Accrued Liabilities Payments for title losses in excess of provisions Proceeds from Sale of Other Assets Net cash received for other assets, cost-basis investments, equity investees and other Stockholders' Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, Total Total stockholders' equity (19,296,835 and 18,375,058 shares outstanding) Total stockholders' equity (18,373,918 and 18,231,781 shares outstanding) Basic earnings (loss) per share attributable to Stewart Income (Loss) from Equity Method Investments Net earnings from equity investees Income (Loss) from Equity Method Investments, Total Net earnings from equity investees Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities Cash (used) provided by operating activities Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities Cash (used) provided by investing activities Cash paid for loan guarantee obligation Cash paid for loan guarantee obligation Cash paid for loan guarantee obligation Cash paid for loan guarantee obligation. Other Receivables Trade and other receivables Treasury Stock, Value Treasury stock - 352,161 and 476,227 common shares, at cost Treasury Stock, Value, Ending Balance Treasury Stock, Value, Beginning Balance Treasury stock - 476,227 common shares, at cost Increase (Decrease) in Deferred Income Taxes (Decrease) increase in net deferred income taxes Decrease in net deferred income taxes