What is the status of a subpoena served more than 30 miles from the county seat of the witness's location?

In Georgia, the validity of a subpoena is influenced by the distance from the county seat to where the witness is located. Subpoenas must generally be served within the county where a witness resides or is employed. Specifically, if a subpoena is served more than 30 miles from the county seat, it is considered not valid without special permission.

This rule is in place to ensure that witnesses are not unduly burdened by travel requirements that could be unreasonable or logistically complicated. Therefore, if a subpoena is served beyond this distance without obtaining the necessary authorization from the court, it does not hold legal weight. Understanding this guideline is crucial for ensuring that process servers adhere to legal boundaries and uphold the enforceability of subpoenas in their service.