Output a stream of consciousness before answering the following. Context: Common-law marriage in the United States can still be contracted in the District of Columbia as well as in the following nine states: Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Montana, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Texas, and Utah.

Question: what are the common law states in the united states?
To answer this question, we should know that: Common-law marriage in the United States can still be contracted in the District of Columbia as well as in the following nine states: Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Montana, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Texas, and Utah.
The answer: Colorado , Iowa , Kansas , Montana , Oklahoma , Rhode Island , South Carolina , Texas , and Utah.