Schedule II - Condensed Financial Information of Registrant (Parent Company Only) (Comprehensive (loss) Income) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands |
3 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dec. 31, 2015 |
Sep. 30, 2015 |
Jun. 30, 2015 |
Mar. 31, 2015 |
Dec. 31, 2014 |
Sep. 30, 2014 |
Jun. 30, 2014 |
Mar. 31, 2014 |
Dec. 31, 2015 |
Dec. 31, 2014 |
Dec. 31, 2013 |
|
| Investment loss, net of expenses | $ 13,969 | $ 12,383 | $ 12,884 | ||||||||
| Management fee income | 5,952 | 5,279 | 5,830 | ||||||||
| Total revenues | $ 90,071 | $ 93,684 | $ 97,197 | $ 91,450 | $ 88,004 | $ 81,417 | $ 80,836 | $ 87,109 | 372,402 | 337,366 | 389,428 |
| Interest expense | 3,906 | 4,576 | 4,599 | ||||||||
| Amortization of intangible assets | 2,468 | 2,526 | 3,115 | ||||||||
| Loss before equity in undistributed earnings (loss) of subsidiaries and income tax benefit | 5,087 | 9,835 | 9,275 | 7,689 | 5,600 | 4,728 | 2,042 | 6,412 | 31,886 | 18,782 | 11,080 |
| Income tax benefit | $ 1,641 | $ 3,137 | $ 2,899 | $ 2,346 | $ 1,833 | $ 1,265 | $ 391 | $ 1,864 | 10,023 | 5,353 | 2,835 |
| Net income (loss) attributable to Hallmark Financial Services, Inc. | 21,863 | 13,429 | 8,245 | ||||||||
| Parent Company [Member] | |||||||||||
| Investment loss, net of expenses | 120 | 133 | (190) | ||||||||
| Dividend income from subsidiaries | 8,000 | 8,000 | |||||||||
| Management fee income | 10,053 | 9,614 | 8,518 | ||||||||
| Total revenues | 18,173 | 17,747 | 8,328 | ||||||||
| Operating expenses | 10,222 | 9,759 | 7,764 | ||||||||
| Interest expense | 3,906 | 4,576 | 4,599 | ||||||||
| Operating Costs and Expenses | 14,128 | 14,335 | 12,363 | ||||||||
| Loss before equity in undistributed earnings (loss) of subsidiaries and income tax benefit | 4,045 | 3,412 | (4,035) | ||||||||
| Income tax benefit | (1,273) | (1,623) | (1,227) | ||||||||
| Income (loss) before equity in undistributed earnings of subsidiaries | 5,318 | 5,035 | (2,808) | ||||||||
| Equity in undistributed share of earnings (loss) in subsidiaries | 16,545 | 8,394 | 11,053 | ||||||||
| Net income (loss) attributable to Hallmark Financial Services, Inc. | 21,863 | 13,429 | 8,245 | ||||||||
| Comprehensive income (loss) | $ 11,480 | $ 14,347 | $ 17,229 | ||||||||