MONTGOMERY, Ala. — Alabama has pushed back the deadline for businesses to get their state and county licenses because of difficulties with the state’s tough new immigration law.

State Revenue Commissioner Julie Magee signed an order extending the deadline from Oct. 31 to Nov. 30 “due to the hardship placed on Alabama businesses” that could not obtain or renew their licenses in October “due to technical difficulties” with implementing the immigration law.

The new law requires individuals and general partnerships going to get or renew their annual business and store licenses to show a driver’s license, birth certificate or similar document. The law has caused long lines at some courthouses, mostly from people having to show legal proof of residency for vehicle tags and registrations.

Crenshaw County Probate Judge Jim Perdue, president of the Alabama Probate Judges Association, said the one-month waiver was a courtesy to citizens and county officials who were still learning how to comply.

“The problem with the immigration law is there are a lot of changes, and we didn’t have time to flesh them out and learn how to do them,” he said Friday.

Perdue said the state’s probate judges support Alabama’s efforts to crack down on illegal immigration, and they are taking time to make sure they follow the law correctly because the consequences are huge.

“If I make an error on the verification or my clerks do, it’s a felony. So you err on the side of caution,” Perdue said.

In June, the Legislature passed what the governor and many others have called the nation’s toughest immigration law. It took effect in late September, and it requires individuals and general partnerships to provide proof of citizenship or legal residency when conducting business with the state. Corporations, limited liability companies and limited liability partnerships are not affected.

A combined state-county license is sold by county licensing officials, which is the probate judge in many counties. The annual licenses are renewed each October.

At the Alabama Retail Association, spokeswoman Nancy Dennis said many of the members are small businesses, but most are set up as corporations and weren’t affected. She said she was aware of one Auburn business owned by a Birmingham resident, who had to get his driver’s license to Lee County before his business could renew its license.

At the National Federation of Independent Business, State Director Rosemary Elebash said she has been speaking all over the state to educate small businesses about how to comply with the law, and she has not heard any complaints about getting business licenses.

Bibb County Probate Judge Jerry Pow, vice president of the Probate Judges Association, said a month’s delay is welcome.

“Everybody is just running gun shy of this immigration law. We are not sure what we are supposed to be doing and not doing. It’s learn as you go,” he said.

The Revenue Department said 223,501 licenses were issued in 2010.